Center Link HELP

[C10agent]

Good info!! Thanks lolife99

[C10agent]

Can anyone post a picture of a TRUE 1972 drop spindle with the tie rod attached? Also, what is the advantage of going with later year gear 73+??

[C10agent]

Alright guys, I got the new 71-72 center link from UNCLE (Thank You!) and everything looks right but my inner tie rods still don't come through the drag link enough to get a cotter pin on. I don't know if I have the wrong part or I am missing something. Rookie question, just to verify, the longer ones are the inners and the shorter ones are the outers, right?? I am starting to question everything since this joker is just not going back together. I apprecaite the advice so far.

[C10agent]

I am thinking about drilling out the inner holes to make it fit. Has anyone done this and is a bad idea??

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by C10agent

I am thinking about drilling out the inner holes to make it fit. Has anyone done this and is a bad idea??

Man,... This is a frustrating thread.
The tie rod holes are tapered.
You would have to drill them with a tapered reamer.
Something is still not right here.
I wish I could see all your parts layed out as if you had them assembled on the truck.
The correct 71-72 inner tie rod has left hand threads.
The correct 71-72 outer tie rod has right hand threads.
Are you putting them thru the holes in the center link correctly?
Nuts on the front side?
The centerlink can be installed backwards.
I see so many of the centerlink / tie rod issues lately.
I wish I could see your truck in person.
It has to be something simple.
Maybe PM members TxFirefighter or SCOTI.
I'm running out of guesses.
Pics would help.

[C10agent]

Thank Keith - this is wearing me out. To make sure that I have the right ones, do the inner and outers take a different size castle nut? My outers are bigger diameter than my inners.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by C10agent

Thank Keith - this is wearing me out. To make sure that I have the right ones, do the inner and outers take a different size castle nut? My outers are bigger diameter than my inners.

No

[C10agent]

Damn summit racing!! I am going to oreilly to pick up some new inners and see if that will fix it. Keep y'all posted.

[lolife99]

I assumed you meant "nut thread size" ,... not wrench size.
There are different size castle nuts that fit the same thread.

We have to start at the spindle and verify every part that connects to it.
That's the only way this is going to be solved.
I'm thinking you have 73-87 spindles now.

[C10agent]

Screw it, I am ordering new spindles and getting those installed next. To verify though, the short tie rod is the outer and the long one is the inner? When I switched it, the other would fit but I didn't think that was right.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by C10agent

Screw it, I am ordering new spindles and getting those installed next. To verify though, the short tie rod is the outer and the long one is the inner? When I switched it, the other would fit but I didn't think that was right.

Don't use short or long.
The 71-72 and 73-87 OUTER tie rods are RIGHT HAND THREAD.
verify that.
Then install that tie rod in the spindle.
The RH thread should also be 11/16" diameter.

[C10agent]

I think my problem also lies there. Both tie rods that I have are RH thread. I am going to get new inners and spindles so I put this problem to bed.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by C10agent

I think my problem also lies there.
Both tie rods that I have are RH thread.
I am going to get new inners and spindles so I put this problem to bed.

That would never work anyway.
They wouldn't connect or adjust with the tie rod sleeve.
Sounds like you have a 63-70 INNER tie rod now.
They are rh thread.
Just the opposite of the 71-72 and 73-87 inner tie rods.

[C10agent]

Okay, I am an idiot. Yes the thread is correct on the shaft, I thought you meant the castle nut. Regardless, I bought two new master pro inners at oreilly and will try them tonight. The cone looks different and the castle nut is a different size than the Moog.

[C10agent]

Here is what I am looking at. I verified which are inners and which are outers as I thought previously. This is what I have right now after I went to Oreilly and bought new inners. If I put the "outers" through the drag link, it bolts up fine. Should I do that and just get it back together??

[67 cst swb]

Call me... Let me help you figure this out.
I will PM you my number.

[67 cst swb]

Hope all that info helps.
Please let me know what you find.

[C10agent]

I absolutely will - 67 CST SWB IS THE MAN!!!!!

[67 cst swb]

Not so fast... Its not on the road yet.
I simply have an assumption as to the solution.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 67 cst swb

Not so fast... Its not on the road yet.
I simply have an assumption as to the solution.

Care to share with the rest of us?

[C10agent]

Okay...........so it was under the assumption that I have 73+ spindles and 73+ centerlink originally. So I went today to Oreillys and bought 73+ inner and outer tie rods and sadly they are too big for the original center link that I have. So I am assuming that the PO is a total idiot and put anything that would fit under there. So............I am going to buy 72 drop spindles and get them replaced or I am going to blow up the truck and then I will have a parts sale.........going cheap!!!!!!

[cleanfreak]

Disclaimer - I've only learned the hard way , and am not an expert. Lolife helped get me straight on spindles , and you may want to start there with his knowledge , as throwing money(new spindles) at it shouldn't be needed. If the upper ball joints fit , and the outers fit , you are already 3/4 the way there. He has pointed out the thread size difference of the tie rods at the sleeve , 5/8 or 11/16 , that will at least get you from 70 and down parts(5/8) and 71 up (11/16). If you have a 72 center link , the inners should be easy also. Can you post the Moog numbers you have purchased? I have some old catalogues at work with taper dimensions , but that may prove to be frustrating to try to figure it out online. Stick with it , everybody here should be able to help. - Bob

[cleanfreak]

Found some part numbers in your thread , came to the shop early to go thru some old paper catalogues with good info in them. The inner -70 tie rods have a 7/16 thread on the stud , 71-72 are 1/2" , and 73 up are 5/8 (according to 20 year old books). If your 72 (1/2" stud) outers fit the inner hole , 71-72 inners should fit. Were your summit tie rods boxed wrong? Also , simple way to look at the inners , the grease fitting comes out the side , might help to identify boxed wrong stuff. Again , DISCLAIMER , I don't know everything , just sounds like an easy job going down the tubes... hope I helped a bit - Bob

[Steve Cole]

Please keep us posted on your progress, there are more in your same situation.

[C10agent]

Hey guys, I am wanted to let y'all know that I haven't given up on this or anything. I am kinda OCD so I wanted to get the rear completely finished, so I installed the relocation brackets and I can now check that off the list. This week I am going to dig into the front end again and see what is going on. More than likely I am going to have to order new drop spindles and ball joints, but we will see. I will keep y'all posted when I find out something.