cstarbard
Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2017
- Messages
- 225
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 18
- Age
- 30
- Location
- Oakham, MA
- Vehicle Year
- 1996
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.3
- Transmission
- Manual
- My credo
- It do like it be
Hey guys,
I have a 1996 2.3 Ranger (TTB). I have set the toe myself twice, and the toe held each time for weeks or even a month or more, but then got out of spec again both times. I set the toe to 1/16" toe in each time, and now just looking at the front of the truck I clearly have toe out. Each time the toe is out again I of course get steering wander, pull, etc that I do not have after I set the toe in.
I can see that my tie rod adjustment sleeves have not moved on their own, which I understand is an obvious thing that would affect toe. I marked them after I finished doing the toe last time for this reason. And of course I torqued the bolts on the sleeves to the spec in my service manual.
This is making me wonder if I have bad tie rod ends, combined with the fact that the tie rod ends are pretty easy to turn clockwise/counterclockwise over the stud. They feel loose, but there isn't any clicking, clunking, squeaking etc, and I don't see any visible in-and-out play. They just feel much looser than I would expect while turning them by hand.
I'm wondering if this means to you guys that my tie rod ends are on the way out, and also if you guys know of a more definitive test. I wouldn't be surprised if the are going bad (probably original), but I also would have thought I'd be able to see a lot more play.
Thanks in advance
I have a 1996 2.3 Ranger (TTB). I have set the toe myself twice, and the toe held each time for weeks or even a month or more, but then got out of spec again both times. I set the toe to 1/16" toe in each time, and now just looking at the front of the truck I clearly have toe out. Each time the toe is out again I of course get steering wander, pull, etc that I do not have after I set the toe in.
I can see that my tie rod adjustment sleeves have not moved on their own, which I understand is an obvious thing that would affect toe. I marked them after I finished doing the toe last time for this reason. And of course I torqued the bolts on the sleeves to the spec in my service manual.
This is making me wonder if I have bad tie rod ends, combined with the fact that the tie rod ends are pretty easy to turn clockwise/counterclockwise over the stud. They feel loose, but there isn't any clicking, clunking, squeaking etc, and I don't see any visible in-and-out play. They just feel much looser than I would expect while turning them by hand.
I'm wondering if this means to you guys that my tie rod ends are on the way out, and also if you guys know of a more definitive test. I wouldn't be surprised if the are going bad (probably original), but I also would have thought I'd be able to see a lot more play.
Thanks in advance