55.2-59 Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Hcb3200** · 10-02-2024, 06:06 PM

Can I get some confirmation or did someone do some reaming.

Cleaning up a 3600 project tie rod ends, rod and arms.

Current ball ends have castle nut style on both the 3600 3/4 ton ends.
But when I went to put the newer 55-59 replacement ends on the tie rod and on the steering arm the new ones don't fit the 3600 steering arms.
Looks like they are 5/8 tapered and 3100/3200 are 1/2.

The ends came from a classic parts vendor full kit rod and tie rod ends supposedly for all 55-59 trucks which i now assume meaning all 3100/3200 1/2 tons.

The rod ends that came off were definitely old style originals.

Thoughts? and/or reality

**mr48chev** · 10-03-2024, 01:15 AM

I'd say the generic "all" is the issue.

OK I don't remember exactly what year and what model you have or are working on. That is something you need to post in the thread every time you start a thread. Good details and complete info get good solid answers a lot faster.

I go to The Filling station website https://www.fillingstation.com/ Quite often when hunting parts or info for Chevy trucks as they are pretty good about giving detailed info and oem parts numbers.

This listing shows what it fits or doesn't fit.

**Hcb3200** · 10-03-2024, 12:52 PM

Forgot the year yep

1956 all parts
3200 and 3600 projects.

The issue is the 3600 arm and the ball stud hole sizes seem to be differnet from
3100/3200 series vs 3600 series. the 3600 has a 5/8 hole in the steering arms it looks like.

**Hcb3200** · 10-03-2024, 01:00 PM

the filling station site is a gem. clearly shows the 1956 3/4 ton 3600 is a different shaft size on the ball than the 1/2 ton.
But they don't offer the female thread tie rod end for 56 3/4 ton.
which is ok but at least I know what I am look for.

Good news is I have a set of old style tie rod ends off of a 3/4 ton I am cleaning up and will put those on the new rod for now.

**mr48chev** · 10-03-2024, 03:55 PM

The Filling station is great to see if something exists in the aftermarket as they usually show it. My experience with them says that they don't have slow moving items in stock and you have to wait until they get it in on a stock order to get some pieces or at least that is what I think happened with a park light lens for my 77 1 ton. It was several weeks before it showed up but it looks oem.

**Hcb3200** · 10-03-2024, 08:27 PM

In my research I have come across this image at one of the vendor sites. It’s the only one I’ve seen with that metal rubber grommet boot upper left corner that goes on the tie rod end I’m assuming it’s something they have custom created for their tie rod ends because I’ve never seen that on any other site. Is that a old part they’ve resurrected or is that modern updates to an old tie rod end

10-02-2024, 06:06 PM	#1
Hcb3200 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Suwanee GA Posts: 258	Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 Can I get some confirmation or did someone do some reaming. Cleaning up a 3600 project tie rod ends, rod and arms. Current ball ends have castle nut style on both the 3600 3/4 ton ends. But when I went to put the newer 55-59 replacement ends on the tie rod and on the steering arm the new ones don't fit the 3600 steering arms. Looks like they are 5/8 tapered and 3100/3200 are 1/2. The ends came from a classic parts vendor full kit rod and tie rod ends supposedly for all 55-59 trucks which i now assume meaning all 3100/3200 1/2 tons. The rod ends that came off were definitely old style originals. Thoughts? and/or reality

10-03-2024, 01:15 AM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,641	Re: Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 I'd say the generic "all" is the issue. OK I don't remember exactly what year and what model you have or are working on. That is something you need to post in the thread every time you start a thread. Good details and complete info get good solid answers a lot faster. I go to The Filling station website https://www.fillingstation.com/ Quite often when hunting parts or info for Chevy trucks as they are pretty good about giving detailed info and oem parts numbers. This listing shows what it fits or doesn't fit. Attached Images __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

10-03-2024, 12:52 PM	#3
Hcb3200 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Suwanee GA Posts: 258	Re: Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 Forgot the year yep 1956 all parts 3200 and 3600 projects. The issue is the 3600 arm and the ball stud hole sizes seem to be differnet from 3100/3200 series vs 3600 series. the 3600 has a 5/8 hole in the steering arms it looks like.

10-03-2024, 01:00 PM	#4
Hcb3200 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Suwanee GA Posts: 258	Re: Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 the filling station site is a gem. clearly shows the 1956 3/4 ton 3600 is a different shaft size on the ball than the 1/2 ton. But they don't offer the female thread tie rod end for 56 3/4 ton. which is ok but at least I know what I am look for. Good news is I have a set of old style tie rod ends off of a 3/4 ton I am cleaning up and will put those on the new rod for now. Last edited by Hcb3200; 10-03-2024 at 01:08 PM.

10-03-2024, 03:55 PM	#5
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,641	Re: Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 The Filling station is great to see if something exists in the aftermarket as they usually show it. My experience with them says that they don't have slow moving items in stock and you have to wait until they get it in on a stock order to get some pieces or at least that is what I think happened with a park light lens for my 77 1 ton. It was several weeks before it showed up but it looks oem. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

10-03-2024, 08:27 PM	#6
Hcb3200 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Suwanee GA Posts: 258	Re: Steering Arms ball stud taper different on 3100 vs 3600 55-59 In my research I have come across this image at one of the vendor sites. It’s the only one I’ve seen with that metal rubber grommet boot upper left corner that goes on the tie rod end I’m assuming it’s something they have custom created for their tie rod ends because I’ve never seen that on any other site. Is that a old part they’ve resurrected or is that modern updates to an old tie rod end Attached Images



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