55-59 adjustable drag link, tie rod end help

[sqrlnts]

Hi everyone! Trying to finish installing my steering arms that were reworked by Sid. He flipped the taper in the steering arms. This will enable me to install the tie rod from the bottom clearing my lowered front leaf springs. he also reversed the taper for the drag link which will allow me to install the drag link from the botom essentially leveling the drag link to the frame which should eliminate my bump steer. When installing the drag link this way the stock length is too long and the tie rod ends would require reclocking to fit. The answer is an adjustable length drag link.

Now for my question. I need to find replacement tie rod ends that will install on my new drag link from Speedway. The tie rod ends are identical both ends, they just need to have 5/8"-18 threads.

The new ones I find locally must be made of gold because they want an arm and a leg for them. Anyone have a good lead on affordable replacements?

Thanks in advance for your time!

[dubie]

Performance Online sells them, it's where I bought mine
http://www.performanceonline.com/194...-PAIR-TRE4759/

[Number 9]

Try this.http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com...d=MOOG-ES297RL

Check the taper size they list. These normally are for 60-64 chevy pickups.

[Number 9]

Originally Posted by dubie

Performance Online sells them, it's where I bought mine
http://www.performanceonline.com/194...-PAIR-TRE4759/

Hi Dubie, I think he needs male ends for his speedway part. thanks Art {number9}

[Jbm1956]

Did you happen to find the right setup for your drag link. I need the same setup to prevent the bump steer. Im running the 3 inch dropped axle and the angle of the arm is extreme.

[sqrlnts]

Short answer is I have not found them yet. Thanks for the suggestion Dubie but yes the set of tie rod ends will need to be male ends.

First off I know that Sid sells a complete adjustable drag link setup for $80, I just can't help but think I can do it cheaper. MOOG has a good website which lists all the specs for their universal tie rod ends.

I think I need to take my spare pitman arm down to the NAPA store and start going through their selection.

[Jbm1956]

Yea I was going to order the one from sids but I think just like you do. But with sids you have to re taper the arms. I wonder if theres ends out there that will fit the arms after the ball is knocked out.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by Jbm1956

Yea I was going to order the one from sids but I think just like you do. But with sids you have to re taper the arms. I wonder if theres ends out there that will fit the arms after the ball is knocked out.

Just to be clear, I did have Sid reverse the taper on my steering arms. If I remember correctly the old style tie rod ends are not tapered but straight....

[Jbm1956]

O ok so do you have to get the arms tapered or can you find ends that aren't for the tapered arms

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by Jbm1956

O ok so do you have to get the arms tapered or can you find ends that aren't for the tapered arms

Like you said earlier your (our) lowered front end is causing an extreme upward angle of the drag link. What Sid is doing when he reverses the taper on the steering arm is allowing the front end of the drag link to be installed from the bottom. Basically making the drag link angle parallel to the frame/ground, hopefully eliminating bumpsteer.

I believe the stock drag link is the same type of setup as the stock tie rod ends. The ball socket type. To me, its worth the effort to install modern, taper type tie rod ends for safety alone.

[Jbm1956]

Are you running the dropped axle? How does it ride? Everyone I talk to tells me to pull the axle out and put a camaro clip or something in. But i think the lowered axles are cool. Hows your

[mr48chev]

Have you got part numbers for the ends you need?

The rod ends in the Speedway link you gave above fit 78/80 or so G body GM cars. It looks like you may be stuck with those as the earlier GM cars seem to take a 11/16 thread rather than the 5/8 thread that your rod takes.

I saw that O'Reilly's has their budget tie rod ends that match those for about 12 bucks or you can take the Moog parts number and go on Ebay and find some Moog ends for about 15 bucks including shipping from guys who buy out old stock.You might also check Amazon on the Moog parts numbers.

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Have you got part numbers for the ends you need?

The rod ends in the Speedway link you gave above fit 78/80 or so G body GM cars. It looks like you may be stuck with those as the earlier GM cars seem to take a 11/16 thread rather than the 5/8 thread that your rod takes.

I saw that O'Reilly's has their budget tie rod ends that match those for about 12 bucks or you can take the Moog parts number and go on Ebay and find some Moog ends for about 15 bucks including shipping from guys who buy out old stock.You might also check Amazon on the Moog parts numbers.

Thanks Mr48. I don't have any good PN's yet. I will be using Ford tie rod ends for my tie rod but don't exactly know which PN to use for the drag link.