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Posted By: nikothenomad Tie Rod Length - December 01st 2020 5:05 pm
So, I understand that "typically" when you replace tie rod ends you measure, measure, measure and count threads, etc.

I get that. So, my question is not about that.

My question is: does anyone know if on Dodge B250 vans in the 1988 range if the Tie Rods were supposed to be the same length (i.e., same thread count for both inner and same thread count for both outer) or if they would be slightly off (say, 11 threads on one outer and 13 threads showing on other outer)?
Posted By: wrcsixeight Re: Tie Rod Length - December 01st 2020 6:30 pm
The location of the adjuster sleeve on the link is really of no consequence. I'd only be concerned if there were somthing like 23 threads showing on one side and 3 on the other.

If the TRE's were worn when you last had it aligned, then an alignment might be inevitable regardless of your impressive desire to achieve precision.
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Tie Rod Length - December 01st 2020 7:15 pm
Thanks, 68. What I am wondering is:

1) Is there anywhere that the tie rod length or thread counts for ends is documented for when they vehicle was made (prior to all of the adjustments, etc. since it came off the dealership lot)

2) I had thought that to adjust toe you spin the sleeve which would essentially change both ends meaning I would see a difference on both inner thread count and outer thread count on that one side compared to the other (if for example the person doing the aligning only adjusted one side).
Posted By: wrcsixeight Re: Tie Rod Length - December 02nd 2020 2:16 am
There are the reverse threads on one side of the sleeve and a TRE. I guess Ideally the adjuster sleeve, would be perfectly in the middle of the threads, an equal amount on both sides.

You can make a little cardboard tube sleeve, held together and to adjuster arm with masking tape...its easier than counting thread ridges, or depressions.

CAn also clean old tre threads so tape will stick well, then compare length of TRE's. New and old TRE's might have their threads start higher or lower .
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Tie Rod Length - December 02nd 2020 2:48 am
"I guess Ideally the adjuster sleeve, would be perfectly in the middle of the threads, an equal amount on both sides."

This is what I was thinking. Only ours are not equal on both ends. Like 6 on inner and 13 threads on outer.
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Tie Rod Length - December 27th 2020 4:10 pm
We finished the tie rod job. It went great! What we wound up doing was taking a variety of measurements in addition to counting threads. Since the total of the threads on each one was 20 we split the difference with 10 and 10 on each side of each tie rod. That worked out really nicely.

Initially our toe was off by 1". Placed tires on some heavy duty plastic to aid movement. If we hadn't have made the continuous mistake of adjusting both tie rods in the same direction repeatedly and scratching our heads continuously the setting of the toe would have been very quick. In the end we took a break to re-group and realized we hadn't even looked at the threads the whole time we were chasing that parked car. So, we went out, counted threads, immediately our error was obvious and five minutes later, 12 threads on all ends and 0" toe!

Other than the time it takes for us to take photos and ponder and wonder and think and experiment and laugh and make mistakes... this is actually a pretty quick procedure.
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