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Tie-rod end...how far to screw it in when installing?

freefallin

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I just bought replacement tie rods and tie rod ends. My question is...How far in should i screw the tie rod end? Or how far in should i screw the lock-nut?

My concern is when im doing toe-in alignment, i don't want to unsrew the tie rod too far out in order to get the proper alignment. (since the tie rod is the only thing adjusted during toe-in alignment).



Ps. I can't refer to the old lock nut because the machine shop, that i took the old tie rods to, just removed it without marking it.
 
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st3r3otyp3

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Well their ########s for not marking it, how did you drive it home? did they put the new one on for you?
 

st3r3otyp3

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Only a laser alignment tool and a bit of patience is going to help now, put them on about half way-2/3rds and drive it to a specialist.
 

ephect

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U'll have to do it by eye,

Strap ur steering wheel down centered so it cant move, replace ur rods and ends, try to screw them both in equal amounts , so ur wheels look straight. Get a tape measure and then measure the left to right front of tyre, note the distance, then repeat with the left and right rear side of the front tyre. This will give u a good base to how much U need to screw in or screw out the tie rod to adjust it enough to drive down to get an alignment.
 

ephect

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U'll have to do it by eye,

Strap ur steering wheel down centered so it can move, replace ur rods and ends, try to screw them both in equal amounts , so ur wheels look straight. Get a tape measure and then measure the left to right front of tyre, note the distance, then repeat with the left and right rear side of the front tyre. This will give u a good base to how much U need to screw in or screw out the tie rod to adjust it enough to drive down to get an alignment.
 

freefallin

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Well their ########s for not marking it, how did you drive it home? did they put the new one on for you?

Yeah...these are the imbeciles i got to deal with here. I didn't find out that they didnt mark it until i drove the car. They installed the new onse but the alignment was so bad that as soon as i moved an inch, i stopped the car to check because i thought i had a flat tire. Basically i drove home doing 15 km/h.
 
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c2105026

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normally one would put a dab of paint on the final thread they screwed to, i.e. mark old position as guide for new position. This is a rough guide that'll get you home, but would need proper wheel alignment.

when I need tie rod ends, due to needing a wheel alignment, I just let the shop do it.
 

Wombles

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Try and line it up with the rears by eye. It will get fairly close that way.
 

st3r3otyp3

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I Know your in UAE, but I would still take it back and say fix the stuff up, but they probably tell you to #### off?
 

freefallin

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U'll have to do it by eye,

Strap ur steering wheel down centered so it cant move, replace ur rods and ends, try to screw them both in equal amounts , so ur wheels look straight. Get a tape measure and then measure the left to right front of tyre, note the distance, then repeat with the left and right rear side of the front tyre. This will give u a good base to how much U need to screw in or screw out the tie rod to adjust it enough to drive down to get an alignment.

Ok...I read your post like 5 times and i'm still having difficulty understanding the instructions. Sorry, its the first time i'm doing this, but don't worry i'm very much mechanically inclined.


Strap ur steering wheel down centered so it cant move, replace ur rods and ends

So far so good.

try to screw them both in equal amounts

by both, You mean the tie rod and the tie rod end? If so, then what exactly do you mean to tie them in equally....like same turns for each? (i'm thinking not because the threads are shorter on the tie rod). Or do you mean by both the right side and the lest side?

...so ur wheels look straight

Totally lost here

Get a tape measure and then measure the left to right front of tyre, note the distance, then repeat with the left and right rear side of the front tyre

Again would appreciate clarity here.


I guess the only thing i got was the first sentence :s
 
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