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  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech

Tie Rods?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eos
  • Start date Start date Jun 18, 2006

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco
Jun 13, 2003
734
3
0
oklahoma
Jun 18, 2006
#1
  • Jun 18, 2006
  • #1
Are the tie rods all the same on the mustang II no matter the motor size? Mine are in need of replacement.
 

cobraII

Founding Member
Feb 10, 2000
120
0
0
Mishawaka Indiana
Jun 19, 2006
#2
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #2
Megan, I am assuming you are talking about outers, yes they are the same. They are also very easy to change, just pull a wheel, loosen the jam nut behind the tie rod end, pull the cotter pin, remove the castle nut, smack the threaded shaft loose and unthread the outer from the inner (this is the important part, COUNT THE TURNS AND PUT THE NEW ONE ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF TURNS, this will get you close enough that it should not drive real bad to the alignment shop, yes you will need an alignment). Repeat the same steps on the other side and you are done. I used to do front end work and alignments for a living and could knock these out in about 5 minutes per side on the alignment rack, in the driveway being your first time should take less than an hour.

CHRIS
 

jeffnoel

Founding Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,638
5
37
Clovis, CA
Jun 19, 2006
#3
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #3
The outer ends are different for power steering and manual steering but engine doesn't matter.
 

cobraII

Founding Member
Feb 10, 2000
120
0
0
Mishawaka Indiana
Jun 19, 2006
#4
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #4
Jeff, you sure, I didnt remember them being different so I went out to Autozone.com and they only list 1 outer (no designation for power or manual).

CHRIS
 

jeffnoel

Founding Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,638
5
37
Clovis, CA
Jun 19, 2006
#5
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #5
I use Kragen.com since that's were I shop and when I converted from the PS to manual rack found this out.

http://www.partsamerica.com/Product...ptset=A&searchfor=Tie+Rod+End+-+Driver,+Outer
 

cobraII

Founding Member
Feb 10, 2000
120
0
0
Mishawaka Indiana
Jun 19, 2006
#6
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #6
Jeff, it does list a McQuay-Norris Tie Rod End for manual and power seperatly but they have the same part number, ES429R.

CHRIS
 

jeffnoel

Founding Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,638
5
37
Clovis, CA
Jun 19, 2006
#7
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #7
Fine, I did the swap and on my II they are different the McQuay Norris part ES429R are for the manual rack ES455R are for the power rack. TRW and MOOG also use these numbers and have a $20 higher price for the PS version.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=MCQ&mfrpartnumber=ES429R&parttype=80&ptset=A

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=MCQ&mfrpartnumber=ES455R&parttype=80&ptset=A
 

cobraII

Founding Member
Feb 10, 2000
120
0
0
Mishawaka Indiana
Jun 19, 2006
#8
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #8
Jeff, I see what the issue is now. If you go back to parts america and put in 1976 instead of 1978 you will see only 1 for either power or manual but if you put in 1977 you will see a start up date of 6/27/77 for the different power end. I see in your signature your car is a 78, mine is a 76 so I was looking up my car. So it looks like we found yet another oddball thing on the late 77 - 78 cars.

CHRIS
 

Power Surge

Founding Member
Jul 20, 2002
1,516
4
38
Palm Coast, FL
Jun 19, 2006
#9
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #9
There are two different tie outer tie rod ends for the II, a short and a long version. From 74 to mid 77, they used one for power and one for manual (I've never seen a factory manual rack II tho). Starting late 77, they went to one end for all applications.

I went through this myself, when I converted the Thundersnake over to a manual rack to clear the 5.4 oil pan.
 
A

Andy CobraII

New Member
Aug 13, 2003
52
0
0
Jun 19, 2006
#10
  • Jun 19, 2006
  • #10
About a year ago, I pulled my power rack off to replace with a manual one, not 100% sure if it was flaming river or not. I did buy the rag joint piece from flaming river to connect to my column. Anyway, I put both side by side to eyeball the width so I could put the manual in. At that time I noticed the tie rods looked shorter on the manual rack and I had to back out to make wide enough. My car is a 76 cobra II. This seems to go along with this threads discovery. My question is. When I go to have it aligned, will there be enough threads(space) if the alignment needs to go wider. I've always wondered about this. Not sure of the alignment process, except they must turn that rod in or out for the width. Does the shorter tie rods affect this?

andy
 

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco
Jun 13, 2003
734
3
0
oklahoma
Jun 21, 2006
#11
  • Jun 21, 2006
  • #11
Thanks for the info everyone! I'm glad to know atleast one part can still be found for the II. lol
 
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