Hi,

I am rebuilding the front suspension on my 85 IROC. I pulled the steering parts out of the car to replace the tie rod end boots, and was I wondering how to tell if the tie rod joints are bad or is it just better to replace the parts all thogether? right now the joint seems to have some restrictions when I am moving it around by hand.

Thanks.

 

If those parts have never been replaced (and they probably haven't), I'd replace everything, have it aligned once, and be done.

JamesC

 

Exactly...

Pull the idler arm, center link, and tie rods, all as a single unit; measure or mark or something, where the idler arm was, as it must be put back with its axis exactly where it was (must be exactly parallel to the axis of the Pitman shaft, and hold that end of the center link at exactly the same height w.r.t. the control arm bushings as the Pitman amr holds the other end of the center link). Buy those parts, plus a pair of tie rod adjuster sleeves. Lay all that new stuff out on the ground, and assemble it all to exactly the same lengths as the old stuff, and re-install it. Take it straight to the alignment shop.

Should make a MASSIVE improvement in how the car drives.

 

Do you guys have a ballpark length of the tie rods sticking out of the connector? I didn't measure when I ripped it apart?
Thanks

 

43.5cm from outer tie rod end grease nipple to center of inner tie rod end.

 

thanks