10 June 2023
No I didn't go to the factory. I've been doing inventory and cleaning parts. I found a couple of frozen tie rod ends and got to wondering how they were made and if I could free them up.
The short answer is no.
I tried to free 1 up and it was pretty solid. I tried a BFH and it wouldn't budge so out came the angle grinder and a cutoff wheel. I was a lot more complicated than I thought.
It reminds me of the human hip, a ball and socket joint.
I had no idea there was a spring in the bottom, you can see what's left of this one after the rust in the smaller cut away portion. Notice there is no grease at all. Above the spring sits a cup shaped plate to cradle the ball on the threaded bit.
also in the ball end is a conical steel piece that holds the rubber boot in place and appears to be a press fit. I had to cut this off to separate the ball from the cups.
There was no boot on this end and no grease fitting. So it rusted up. I shows the importance of the boots and the newer greaseable style of ends. I wasn't until I cleaned up the spring side cup that I saw it has a hole in it for the grease to migrate through. These ends must be assembled and then powerfully crimped to stay together. Amazing!
Now we know!
My father taught me when I got my first Rover(I was 10?), that when get new tie rods for my truck, the first thing I do is put grease nipples on the bottom before installing it.
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