I bought a linkage rebuild kit from AR which came with the steering link and tie rod, but not the threaded sleeve the tie rods connect to. I have the steering wheel pointed forward and I have tightened the sleeve about as much as I physically can and the wheels are toed in still. The tie rod threaded portion is at least 3/4 inserted into the sleeve on both sides and I'm having to turn it with assistance of pliers. Is it possible that my old sleeves are too long? I've found some other oddities on the car from work that was done in the past. Should I be able to turn those sleeves by hand to adjust the wheel alignment?
Thanks!
Jon
Tie Rod Sleeve too long?
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Byrd48
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:18 am
- Your car is a: 1980 2000
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18Fiatsandcounting
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- Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
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Re: Tie Rod Sleeve too long?
The very early tie rod sleeves were different, but 1970 to 1985 were all the same. There were also differences in tie rod ends for the very early cars (<1970), but I'm guessing that you got the right ones.
The tie rod sleeve should be able to screw onto the tie rods ends all the way until the end of the threads on the tie rod ends, but things get pretty crusty over the years. When rebuilding front suspensions, I remove the tie rod sleeve and run a bottle brush with detergent back and forth and round and round on both ends. Then thoroughly dry, and then lubricate with light grease and run the tie rods in and out until you can screw them all the way in. Sometimes it helps if you use a screwdriver in the open slot on the side to widen the thread "channel" a bit.
It's not unusual to have to use vise grips or the like to be able to turn the sleeve all the way, but it does indicate that the threads are pretty crusty deep inside the sleeve. Vigorous cleaning is usually the answer, assuming the threads haven't been buggered up somehow.
-Bryan
The tie rod sleeve should be able to screw onto the tie rods ends all the way until the end of the threads on the tie rod ends, but things get pretty crusty over the years. When rebuilding front suspensions, I remove the tie rod sleeve and run a bottle brush with detergent back and forth and round and round on both ends. Then thoroughly dry, and then lubricate with light grease and run the tie rods in and out until you can screw them all the way in. Sometimes it helps if you use a screwdriver in the open slot on the side to widen the thread "channel" a bit.
It's not unusual to have to use vise grips or the like to be able to turn the sleeve all the way, but it does indicate that the threads are pretty crusty deep inside the sleeve. Vigorous cleaning is usually the answer, assuming the threads haven't been buggered up somehow.
-Bryan