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One-ton knuckle outer tie rod end improvement [message #360193] Wed, 18 November 2020 07:53 Go to previous message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma:
Senior Member
The One-Ton steering knuckle has a larger hole for the outer tie rod end. It is also a thicker mount than the OEM knuckle, so the OEM outer tie rod end does not sit deep enough to fully thread the nut on the tie rod end stud. The solution was to ream the hole slightly to allow the stud to sit deeper and the nut will thread on.

I found this left two issues on my coach:
1 - The stud does not meet with the knuckle until the well inside the knuckle. My farm-boy shade-tree mechanic instincts tell me that this will put an additional lever arm on the stud and excess forces. Indeed I found the outer tie-rod end stud loosened several times. I've replaced my outer tie rod ends and made a collar to bring the point of contact closer to the tie rod end ball joint, which seems to work because the stud has not loosened since... but I'm not happy with that setup.

2 - Also with the OEM outer tie rod end, the stud sits so deep that there is little room for up/down movement. I don't know if mine hit the knuckle, but its close and doesn't sit well with me.

In a recent video from Hal StClair on his current rear-wheel drive build, he showed his front end using a one-ton setup. For the outer tie-rod end he used the correct GM tie rod end for the GMC. He found a business that will custom make the adjustment tube of any length with any standard size thread on either end for a cost of only $19.00.

I'd like to investigate this further, but I was wondering if anyone else has done this and could share the information.

Here is Hal's video showing his front end. Unfortunately the audio is badly muffled. I believe he said he had to use a different inner tie rod end from a Ford to get left and right hand threads for each end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s0L0KBi6AY

Hal shared with me the source of the tie rod sleeve:

http://dcaracefab.com/dca-cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=21&zenid=65r04ohcgkf0je3fsuosr20jb1

I'm hoping that using the OEM outer tie rod end will address my two concerns. So again just wondering if anyone else has already done this and can share their experiences / info with the group.

Thanks to Hal for this information.



Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
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