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Tie Rod Questions

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by DanStew, Sep 8, 2011.

  1. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    I am going to have to make my steering linkage for the jeep. I am going to keep the stock tie rod ends since i am keeping the dana 27. my questions is what thread size is teh stock Tie Rod ends, and what suppliers have you used for weld in bungs to work with teh stock Tie rod ends?

    Thanks
     
    DanStew, Sep 8, 2011
    #1
  2. duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    I think they are 11/16-18. Just get a tap (ENCO), an intermediate tie rod, and shorten it. I ran the tap down the full length of the threads (on tap) before I cut the rod so you still have centered threads to tap deeper. I cut the right hand threaded end and have a right hand tap, but I do believe ENCO also has left hand taps.
     
    duffer, Sep 8, 2011
    #2
  3. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    You could always call Herm and order up the tie rods already cut/drilled/tapped. He has a kit for the one-piece tie rod conversion that re-uses all the stock TREs, and uses the two-hole rod end to connect the drag link. He also sells the drag link!

    I was going to make all my own rods as well, but by the time I bought all the tools and the materials it would have cost more to do it myself. With all the tie rod ends the kit is $145, the rods alone run $80.
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2011
    w3srl, Sep 8, 2011
    #3
  4. kaiser krawler

    kaiser krawler kaiser krawler

    When i went to the double hole knuckle about 5 years ago, i used Mountain Off-Road Enterprises (m.o.r.e.) it was a little under $100.00 back then to upgrade my rods to 1 1/4 d.o.m tubing , with weld in tube ends. Are you planning to keep your stock steering or upgrading?
     
    kaiser krawler, Sep 8, 2011
    #4
  5. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    I am using Sagnaw steering box. I was going to keep the single hole knuckle and use the tie rod end with the second hole to attach tie rod to pitman arm. I was hoping to get the weld in bungs so i didnt have to tap the tubing for the Tie rod end.
     
    DanStew, Sep 8, 2011
    #5
  6. Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    I bought taps from MSC Industrial. The right hand tap is cheap, the lefthand tap was about $40 so I usually just cut off a longer rod and re-tap the right hand end so I save the left hand tap for when I need it. Speedway motors also sells rod by the inch. 11/16 by 18 is a size you will never find at a local hardware store.
     
    Daryl, Sep 8, 2011
    #6
  7. duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    IMO, a simple tap job is far easier than finding and welding in thread inserts-especially for 11/16-18-and there is less possibility for failure.

    The problem I had with your proposed arrangement was the slight angle on the double TRE caused some spring interference. I swaped in a double hole knuckle and used a long Rambler TRE (60's vintage and to make up the amount I trimed off the rodR)) to make everything clear but a tie rod flip would also work.
     
    duffer, Sep 9, 2011
    #7
  8. noal133

    noal133 New Member

    i used a stock length sleeve for a 94 cherokee, it measures 34 3/4". it is a little shorter than i would have liked but still has plenty of thread engagement.
     
    noal133, Sep 9, 2011
    #8