C body Inner tie rod end dilemma

[lilcuda]

I'm putting my front suspension back together with C body tie rods. I bought everything from Rock Auto and one of the inner tie rod ends is different. I called Federal Mogul (they own Moog now) and they said it's a new design to give the stud more travel. I'm a little concerned that since the stud necks down that it will be weaker than the other three. Here are some photos. The first photo is what three of the tie rod ends look like. The second photo is the new design that I'm concerned about. Oh yeah, the part # is the same on both.

Thoughts?

 

[jtolbert]

I'd guess that the newer-style replacement tie-rod end is probably stronger than anything Chrysler used originally on the cars. Metallurgy has come a long way in the thirty-plus years since c-body tie-rod ends were used in production.

 

[Bulldozer]

if that thing is in a position to break, you have much more to worry about than a tie rod end. if you are off roading with it , ya it might be a little weak lol

 

[ardentindustries]

You'll be fine...run it. Can anyone suggest a link to a good read on the benefits of using the tie rods? I've seen it here and on moparts and have never understood the reasoning.

 

[BillGrissom]

I sure wouldn't be concerned with it breaking. I am sure the threads on the adjuster would fail first. The "little extra travel" might help you turn the wheel that extra 1/4" to keep from running off a cliff someday. Seems like a good design change. Now you'll be troubled whether you should buy 3 more with the improved design.

On the same topic, when adjusting toe-in, always insure that inner and outer tie rod balls are fairly centered before tightening the adjuster. They need head-room so they don't bind as the steering moves to extremes. I hope most alignment shops check that, but wise to verify. K-mart once "aligned" my Dart when the tie rod thread was totally stripped, or at least they charged me for an alignment.

 

[lilcuda]

Thanks, guys. I'll run it. I gotta move this project along. Just sprayed some semi-gloss black on them.

 

[jos51700]

I noticed the same thing on lower ball joints for my Neon (as if it had uppers...).

Then I realized that it has nice smooth contours and the neck is no smaller than the thread diameter, which sees tensile force much greater than what the side-loading will ever be on the street. I'm ok with it.