Adjustable outer tie rod ends?

[iexcelr8]

I'm new to this forum, but not to Mustangs. I currently have a '68 convertible with a 390. I recently installed the manual rack and pinion from Flaming River and, not surprisingly, have some bumpsteer issues. I bought the Baer Tracker kit, but it does not fit up to the Flaming River rack. In short, the FR rack replaces everything except the outer tie rod end. The adjustable outer tie rod from Baer has a 5/8" thread, while the FR rack requires the stock 11/16" thread. So, the Baer kit did not work. My question is whether anyone is aware of an adjustable outer tie rod end that uses the stock 11/16" thread? I've looked at the ProMotorsports kit, but it only relocates the outer tie rod and does not appear to be adjustable.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Regards,
Chris

 

[grego37]

so you're looking for outer tie rods ends with 11/16 male thread?

What do you mean by adjustable?

 

[iexcelr8]

By adjustable, I mean ...

being able to lower the mounting location of the outer tie rod end to the spindle. If you look at the Baer Tracker unit, I think you'll understand what I mean. http://baer.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe/00538.1.417380291100007502

If you notice, on the Baer piece, the part of the outer tie rod that sticks through the hole in the spindle is longer than stock and there are spacers that you can put either on top of or below the spindle so that you can change the mounting point of the outer tie rod end. I'm far from being an expert in suspension and steering, but it is my understanding that the adjustments enable you to be able to change the steering geometry in order to minimize bumpsteer.

So, the Baer kit would have been perfect, except they only offer it with a 5/8" thread, not 11/16" which is what I need.

 

[yeloxr7]

WHat causes the bump steer is the fact that the control arm is pivoting in a different arc than the tie rod. The inner pivot of the control arm is closer to the center of the vehicle than the inner pivot of the tie rod. This is why the rack conversions like Randalls or TCP work better than the Flaming River type.

I don't think changing anything at the outer tie rod end or spindle is going to change anything to do with bumpsteer.

 

[iexcelr8]

As I said, I'm no expert and I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, but if the outer tie rod has nothing to do with bumpsteer, then why does every kit that addresses bumpsteer, including the Baer unit, do so by changing the location of the outer tie rod end?

 

[grego37]

I went through the same exact thing,but 68 stang with TCP rack,
Also when you do the shelby drop on the upperarms and cut your coil springs for a lower ride height it can really change your steering geometry.
I went with the Pro motorsports bump steer kit and it fixed my problems.

Can you use the pro motorsports kit with the stock outer tie rod end?

Go to gt350clone.com for more info on bumpsteer, and steering geometry issues.

 

[yeloxr7]

As I said, I'm no expert and I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, but if the outer tie rod has nothing to do with bumpsteer, then why does every kit that addresses bumpsteer, including the Baer unit, do so by changing the location of the outer tie rod end?

Most suspension and steering setups are a compromise at best. To avoid bumpsteer in a Mustang, the lower control arm and tie rod ends need to be as close to parallel as possible and pivot in as close to the same arc as possible. I think these bumpsteer kits that change the tie rod mounting point correct any discrepancy in these two factors that are caused by whatever method is used to lower the car. Fox Mustangs require offset rack bushings as well as tie rod end kits to correct bump steer caused by lowering the front end.

 

[iexcelr8]

The ProMotorsports unit is an option, but it is not adjustable. In other words, as I understand it, their unit moves the tie rod down 1 inch and forward 1 inch. Alternatively, the Baer kit enables you to "fine tune" the up/down location of the outer tie rod with spacers. Because I don't know if the ProMotorsports location is the right one to fix my issue, I'd prefer to go with one I can adjust.

 

[grego37]

baer's is adjustable in steps to 3/4"
pro motorsports is a fixed 1" drop, its also moved forward for faster steering response , I think Shelby did something like this in the early Shelby's. I love the feel

I went with pro motorsports because I figured with lowering my upper a arms 1" and cutting some of my coil from the springs, I'd need more than a 3/4" drop.
It worked for me.
I still have to get it aligned by a qualified shop, I'll have them double check with a bump steer gauge.
good luck with yours.

 

[ron67fb]

if the outer tie rod has nothing to do with bumpsteer, then why does every kit that addresses bumpsteer, including the Baer unit, do so by changing the location of the outer tie rod end?

Because those kits assume that your inner tie rod ends are still in the stock location. Looking at the car head-on, the inner tie rod ends must be in-line with the inner control arm mounts. The other rack kits have the inner tie rods near the center of the rack, but the FR one looks like they're way out. I haven't seen the FR unit installed, but if the inner tie rods are not in the same place as the stock ones (as they look on their website's picture), then outer tie rod adjustments will not help you much. If that pic is accurate, then it's beyond me why they'd "engineer" something so half-assed.

 

[twuxtop]

how about this kit?!

what about these? http://www.woodwardsteering.com/hot.htm
seems it wouldnt be that hard to fab up some brackets and measure it all out.
what do you all think? super adjustabilities! i like