[Shotimes] Subframe Adjustment / Tie Rod Inspection

[clubairth@bellsouth.net]

Alan:
 Here is the test I use on inner tie rods, will the tie rod stay in place
after it is removed from the outer connection? The inner socket should have
enough friction to hold the tie rod in any position you place it. If the rod
drops after you release it. Then replace the inner tie rods. I have found
that with the tie rod disconnected from the spindles, try and pull in and
out on the inner rod. You will find a small bit of movement and there should
be zero. Every set I have looked at needed replacing and I will guarantee
that yours are worn out. Also I never have found a big difference after
installing the new inner ones. It does tighten up the steering but to a
small degree!
.
.

> Now I'm trying to decide whether the tie rod ends (inners and outers) are
> good. As far as I know they're original, but all I have to go my is a lack
> of receipts for these parts in the stack obtained from the previous owner
> who had the car since about 26k. When I shake the wheels across the
> horizontal and vertical axes I can detect no apparent excess motion -
> certainly not like the '91 SHO I had which at the same mileage (~84k) felt
> like the wheel nuts weren't fully attached.  However, the HELM manual says
> to check the inner tie rod by pulling up at the outer end (with outer tie
> rod attached) using a spring scale. When I do so, the required force to
> cause upward movement is less than 1 lb, as compared to the 2 lbs-10 lbs
> target listed in the HELM manual.
>
> So, this would be grounds for rejection, right? For comparison, I ran the
> same test on a TRW inner and outer tie rod end set that have about 15k-20k
> on them ,at most. As I recall, this is a "low-friction" design, which
> appears corroborated by the ~1 lbs reading I got out of these parts when
> tested the same way. Hmm. What's a person to do? It seems by the mileage
> that the parts on the car should be worn out, but they don't seem to show
> it. I wonder if Ford used better parts on '95 SHO steering gear vs. the
Gen
> I'm more familiar with?
>
> I hate to throw out good parts, but I'd rather not deal with this in the
> future. Any recommendations from the troops?
>
> Thx.
>
>     Alan