Tie Rod Ends

[Regcabguy]

Well, here are pictures of what stock heigh, 2" leveling kit, and 3" VR springs would look like at the drag link\tie rod coupler. Y'all decide what the effect would be. I have not yet felt what I would call bump steer even bouncing it pretty good on speed bumps. The drag link is running pretty much in the same plane as the track bar on all of them.

Stock Height
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2" Lift
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3" Lift
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Looks like your swaybar links are bending a bit.

 

[SierraRam]

I like the new T style. My lift is 8" and have not had any issues. Converted two years ago (20,000mi).

 

[AH64ID]

I ended up keeping my OEM stuff installed and just changed out the stabilizer for a Bilstien. Between the new stabilizer and ball joints my right pull is completely gone and the steering feels very crisp thanks to the spin free kit. The alignment shop said all the TRE's were in good shape, so I will stick with the Y style for a while.

 

[Wayne M.]

To bring this one to the front... I just did my oil pan yesterday, and while I was under there I had my wife saw the wheel for me before I closed the hood (I believe that's the best way to check your steering). I thought I was feeling a double knock in the wheel at low speed recently, and sure enough, the drag link at the pitman arm is jumping :--). I pulled some more hair out this evening trying to decide what to do.

1) call the dealer and try to con them to do the TSB for free or low cost

2) bite the bullet and get the T kit and do it myself

3) replace the parts as they wear out with MOOG problem solvers.



I went with 3, mainly due to financial reasons. The drag link end was only $16. 97 from Summit.



AH64ID, how are you doing with yours?

Anyone who knows, what's the toe spec for our trucks?



I found this handy page with all MOOG part numbers for reference.

 

[AH64ID]

Aside from the steering stabilizer I am still 100% stock and just rolled 90K miles, many of which are on crappy dirt roads.

Your dilemma is the main reason I didn't touch the steering when I did the BJ's, shocks, and hubs.

 

[DClark]

Who makes good tie rod ends for the 03-07 steering?



I am doing ball joints, shocks, and hubs in the next month or so and figure I may as well do tie rod ends at the same time.



Thanks.

I just changed mine out, out of neccessity. Turned a corner and no more steering. fortunatly not traffic. I needed the truck fixed ASAP so got parts from CarQuest. Seem to be fine. Old tie rod end popped out of socket. didn't see it coming.

DClark

 

[Wayne M.]

I just changed mine out, out of neccessity. Turned a corner and no more steering. fortunatly not traffic. I needed the truck fixed ASAP so got parts from CarQuest. Seem to be fine. Old tie rod end popped out of socket. didn't see it coming.
DClark

Exactly which tie rod popped? That's scary.
I just got in from changing my drag link. I couldn't believe how easy it unthreaded from the sleeve. I put the greasable moog in. Took it around the block. Feels better already.

 

[DClark]

Exactly which tie rod popped? That's scary.
I just got in from changing my drag link. I couldn't believe how easy it unthreaded from the sleeve. I put the greasable moog in. Took it around the block. Feels better already.

The passenger side popped out. That is scary since it is inside a rubber boot you really can't see that it may have a problem unless you do a careful search. It was not obvious just to look at it casually.
DClark

 

[cerberusiam]

It was not obvious just to look at it casually.

And it may not be obvious even if you look carefully. The alignment on on the tie rods is critical, if you don't get it ver close to perpindicular to the plane of attachment it will pop the ball out of the socket or break the rod shaft. Always on a turn too, they bind and the PS is powerful enough it will break things. I have to reset mine once and make the alignment shop do it over when they left them out of line.

 

[Wayne M.]

The passenger side popped out. That is scary since it is inside a rubber boot you really can't see that it may have a problem unless you do a careful search. It was not obvious just to look at it casually.
DClark

Thanks for that. Yes checking a front end is not easy at times. As I stated above, I've found the best way to check steering (and other thinks like track bars) is to have someone shake the steering wheel while the vehicle is on the ground at ride height. As a heavy truck mechanic, that's the only way to check the big stuff. It's a fact that at slow speeds and big wheel angles, the stress put on the steering system is huge! Put big rubber on and it multiplies.