Why can't anything go smoothly? Ok, I got my tie rods from Rob Mills in Australia. I have a production date of 6/73 rx2 sedan. As you can see in the picture my old inner tie rods are longer and have a bend in them. The new one's I got are shorter and are straight. I emailed Rob Mills in au and he is trying to figure it out. The tapers on both measure out the same and the outer tie rods appear to be ok. What's going on with my inners? On top of it all one of the new tie rods has the wrong dust boot installed!!

 

Unfortunately, this is the way these things go. In the course of sourcing RX-7 tie rods from rockauto.com (my 74-build uses RX-7 sized tapers), even tie rods from the same brand are mismatched. If you have the three five (marked 555) tie rod ends, then it's consistent with what I've gotten for 7 parts. I was lucky in that my 74 tie rods had an unusually long threaded rod between, and I was able to make the distance.

If you could find RX-4 steering knuckles, they'll bolt to your strut housings, but will accept the 1st gen RX-7 taper. You could also ream your steering knuckles and step up to the more common hardware.

I have a set of RX-2 steering hardware (inners, outers, pitman, idler, and used steering box) that will fit the pre-74 RX-2s, but I'm afraid I'd never get rid of them without the tie rod ends. They're also from Rob, but I got goosenecked inners like your originals. If you tell me the distance between the grease fittings (good approximation for on-center), I can tell you if my parts will reach.

You might also consider buying some right-handed metric threaded rod (I seem to recall that it's M10x1.5) from mcmaster.com as well as a pair of coupling nuts. This would allow you to effectively lengthen your right-handed end.

 

Can't you just use a new, longer threaded rod between the tie rods?

 

Yes, but it's damn-near impossible to find a metric threaded turnbuckle (both right and left threads) in the states. It sounds stupid, but I spent a LOT of time looking.

 

To get a longer stud is your best bet. Contact Misumi. They have alot of cool metric stuff in stock. If that part isn't standard they have a huge factory ready to make customs at a very reasonable price.

http://www.misumiusa.com/index.aspx

My contact is:
Judi Selvey
judis@misumiamerica.com

 

Thanks guys. I'm going to try and get the same style that I have first from Rob and if that doesn't pan out then I will try the threaded rod idea.

Crit, I just pmed you on the measurement of my tie rod. Thanks

Jarrett

 

Here's a couple of pics of the inner tie rods that I need. Anyone got these or know where I can get some?

 

I got the same short ones from Rob, so I decided to just use the first gen ones. They are the same length, but you have to open up the hole a little bit to get them to work.

 

Jesuscookies, can you please post a pic of your inner tie rods you have on your car? Are they the same as the one's I have in the pic above?

 

Yeah they are exactly the same.

 

u might want to try mcquay-norris

 

Patience grasshoppers, they are coming

 

Here are the new ones I got in today

 

^NICE! Keep us posted when/if you'll be making these available.

 

Lookin good. So, how do I get a pitman arm?

 

Pulll your old one off
call (209) 948-6005
Ask for Ted
Tell him you need your Pitman arm rebuilt
Send him your old one
Wait...(not that long)
Pay $$$$$
Open box from the Parts Fairy (UPS MAN)

 

Thanks, I'll look into it. I guess getting the parts you mentioned didnt' pan out? I'll just send my pitman arm in and get it rebuilt then. It's the last thing I need to do to complete my rebuild.