So I tried to install my tie rod ends today and this is what happend.

The drivers tie rod fell out as soon as I took the bolt off.

The passenger side would not come aprt with a pickle fork. So I ended up pulling the entire center steering bar out. Hammered out the passenger side tie rod and proceeded to install my new inner tie rod ends.

Well, they will go all the way through untill the rubber bottoms out and the top of the castle nut is about an 1/8 of an inch past the hole for the cotter pin. This without ever using a wrench, all by finger.

So, does this mean I need a new center bar? (the bar that the inner tie rods, pitman arm, and idler attatch to)

No input on this one guys?

Possibly you have the center link flipped upside down and have the tapered hole bottoming you out? If not hit it with the hammer a couple times.

It sounds like you either have the wrong tie rods, or the center link holes are wallowed out. If you're sure the tie rods are correct, you need a new center link.

If someone has a correct tie rod spare, perhaps they can measure the diameter of the taper for you and post it here.

Frank

Where did you get the tie rods from?

They are OE brand from Advance auto.

I took the bar and ends to them today. The old tie rods fit snug. The new ones fit kinda loose and sloppy. They ran the numbers and said the tie rods are the same all the way back to 84 at least.

So, does anyone have a center link they want to part with? Because either these rods are really poorley machined, or my center link is toast. And right now I have no way to tell unless I have a another center link to compare it too.

Today when I came home i looked at this mess again and noticed the castle nuts that came with the new tie rod ends are only half as tall as my factory original nuts. With the factory nuts on the shaft they tighten up with the cotter pin hole just above the nut. The eye of the cotter pin might just catch a slot in the nut if I were to try and use them.

None of that is good - it sounds like you need a new center link (relay rod)..... I'd try a junk yard.... a new one is $120-150 at the dealer.

Frank

They want $200 for a power steering gear box and center link here.

I orderd a pitman seal for my gear box, hope it cures the leak.

As for the center link the yard here wont sell it to me unless I buy the gear box as well. And they want my gearbox as a core. WTF? What in the hell does a yard that crushes cars need cores for anyway? They don't rebuild them thats for sure. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Find another yard.

Frank

That would seem to be the logical course of action.

Unfortunately nobody has Ram 50's or Mighty Maxs in the yard anymore. I was told by four different yards that they are crushed on sight. And the two yards that said they would try the computer for me said thast there are no Rams in the computer for the state.

I spent 20 minutes reaming one dude a new arse because he said he had one two days ago but already crushed it. I asked him when it came in because I had been there a week ago and they didn't have one. He said three days ago. I asked why he would crush a vehicle that he only had one of, and why he would crush something he knew I needed parts for. He had asked my for my contact info and everything the week before. He said if anything came in he would call me. He said those trucks were disposable and that they are junk, that he didn't have time to call everybody back that left contact info. He also said he doesn't hold on to antique pieces of crap.

I could have killed him through the phone if it was possible. I don't get alone with junk yards well to begin with. Mostly because if its older the five years old they crush the stuff as soon as it enters the yard. I don't understand this as the parts people need from yards, are for the older vehicles over five to ten years old and older.

I wish I could kick someone right in the b*lls right now.