professor229
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2021
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 77
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Minnesota
- Vehicle Year
- 2004
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Transmission
- Automatic
I decided to take the time yesterday afternoon to heat the garage and install the MAS (Dorman) tie rod ends. I had removed one end a week or so ago and put it back after cleaning all the threads etc. and using antisieze so I knew that I would be successful on one side at least.... and that was the case.... The new tie rod was identical to the old one, size wise..... and it took 27 turns to remove it so the new one went on 27 turns... and went fine.... Then the other unmolested tie rod end. It looked OEM.... so I knew I would have a little bit of a fight.... and I absolutely wouldn't have had to replace this one, but I thought as long as I did one side, I might as well do the other especially if I need to have it aligned.... will try it down the road in April when insurance goes on it and see if it tracks correctly.... The other side did a little arguing but I used the normal procedure... wire wheel on a drill to clean up threads and de-rust everything in sight..... and the some WD40.... wait a bit... rub off any excess and hit the lock nut with a heat gun on high..... after finding the exact wrenches necessary to hold everything else in place... It worked fine... and then got the remaining threads cleaned up.... This tie rod end count was twenty turns.... It all went back together really well.... Now.... the only question is whether to align it or now.... and find a competent place to have it done.... We are fairly new to the metro area.... so I don't have much of an idea where to go.... If anybody else lives in the twin cities area, would you let me know who does honest alignment work? Will try to send pictures of the old tie rod ends... my digital camera decided to quit working yesterday.... too cold?