The Ford Barn

mkmskm · 01-06-2013, 10:42 PM

I was aligning my car today and noticed as I turned the tie rod its got a bit of a bow, not tons about 1/8" as measured in the middle. Since its fixed down once the ends are tightened is that going to cause any issues, is it worth replacing? The steering is nice and tight.

Marco Tahtaras · 01-06-2013, 11:06 PM

Personally I would remove the bow. With that said it won't really hurt a thing.

pat in Santa Cruz · 01-06-2013, 11:44 PM

you can straighten it easily by hand using a vice, your arms and a good eye for straight. You will have to re-align the toe in afterwards.

ford3 · 01-06-2013, 11:54 PM

the trouble with any straight piece of metal with a bow in it ,it will just get worse over time and with use, if you have a new one i would replace it, if not go with the one you have and just keep an eye on your alighnment

Tom Wesenberg · 01-07-2013, 12:28 AM

Every original tie rod I've seen has been hollow and is easy to straighten.
I've also seen replacements that are solid.

Marco Tahtaras · 01-07-2013, 01:11 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ford3

the trouble with any straight piece of metal with a bow in it ,it will just get worse over time and with use, if you have a new one i would replace it, if not go with the one you have and just keep an eye on your alighnment

Theoretically, yes. However it takes far more force than excessive toe-in to add to a 1/4" bow! That slight bow would make it slightly more susceptible to increased distortion from bumping curbs and other similar outside pressures. The greater the bow, and even worse a fixed point bend, the weaker the rod and more susceptible to outside forces it will be.

Ross/Kzoo · 01-07-2013, 08:19 AM

My eye isn't that good so I would take a 2 X 4 and cut it just shorter than the length between the adjusting bolts. Then rip a 45 degree V about 1/2" deep. when you then lay your tie rod on it you will be able see where it needs correcting.

Paul in Colorado · 01-07-2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross/Kzoo

My eye isn't that good so I would take a 2 X 4 and cut it just shorter than the length between the adjusting bolts. Then rip a 45 degree V about 1/2" deep. when you then lay your tie rod on it you will be able see where it needs correcting.

Most 2 X 4s I have seen are not as straight than the tie rod.

Paul

mkmskm · 01-07-2013, 10:24 AM

I used my vise partly open with a towel to hold in like a V and it bent back to straight. I wonder why they were hollow, I think it would have been easier to just thread a solid rod.

Jazzjr · 01-07-2013, 10:54 AM

55 Years ago, I used to hang around a Welding-Machine Shop, and learned a lot of Tricks of the Trade. Most of the Machinery was powered by overhead Belt System down to the Tool being used. Powered by 1 large Electric Motor, each Lathe, Drill press, Grinders, Power Hacksaw etc. had a Clutch to engage, with a large Lever to the overhead Belt to run each machine.

An old time Machinist showed me how check for Straightness of Axles, and Round Bars such as a Tie Rod. They had lengths of Angle Iron that were Known to be Straight, and were checked often by using a Master Straight Edge. They varied in size from 1/4 in to 4in.

If a Tie Rod was to be checked they would use a piece of 3/4 or 1 in, you could see where it was bent by looking down the side of the angle over the top. To straighten a Tie Rod or Axle, some were done Cold, some they would heat it in Coal Fire, then into a Vise with 16 in Straightening Jaws. If the pieces need to be Hardened they used Water and or Oil bath.

Here is a link to a video to a Old Time Over Head Belt System, similar to the one I hung around at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE-j7TEVX2U

Jim Brierley · 01-07-2013, 11:07 AM

1/8" is nothing, don't worry about it. When I was a truck mechanic we straightened them while still on the truck, so they only got "close-enough", and they worked just fine. The one on my widebed is at least a 1/4" out, and has been for years, no tire wear!

Al 29Tudor · 01-07-2013, 11:49 AM

It isn't touching to wishbone is it?

mkmskm · 01-07-2013, 12:37 PM

Nope, just noticed the slight wobble as I rotated it.

eagle · 01-07-2013, 01:03 PM

Someone must have tried to tow my A by connecting to the tie rod. It was bent obout 4" from straight. I straightened it on the vehicle with a bottle jack and wood blocks. It turned out pretty good. I cannot see how 1/4 inch or even more is going to make a bit of difference. I would say if you are worried about the tie rod breaking or bending under normal use, you have too few REAL things to worry about. Take off a few of the lugs nuts on a front wheel and drive down a curvy road at 60mph, you'll be thinking about that wheel so hard you won't even remember the tie rod!!! Just a joke, take it that way.

redmodelt · 01-07-2013, 09:18 PM

You could try turning it so the bow is down, put a jack under it at the low spot and push it up. Might be easier then getting it off under the car.

eagle · 01-08-2013, 09:33 AM

redmodelt, Thats what I did except used wood blocks on each side of the bend so I didn't get a "s". Mine is nice and straight now.

Purdy Swoft · 01-08-2013, 11:46 AM

If the tie rod gets bent after the toe in was set, it will cause the toe in to be off the amount that the tie rod is bent. I have straightened bent tie rods and brake rods with a large anvil and a two pound hammer. Place the part on the flat area on top of the anvil and hammer the the high point down. You can roll the tie rod on the flat of the anvil and it will show if the tie rod is straight. It is probably best to just replace the tie rod.

01-06-2013, 10:42 PM	#1
mkmskm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 202	Tie rod question I was aligning my car today and noticed as I turned the tie rod its got a bit of a bow, not tons about 1/8" as measured in the middle. Since its fixed down once the ends are tightened is that going to cause any issues, is it worth replacing? The steering is nice and tight.

01-06-2013, 11:06 PM	#2
Marco Tahtaras Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,099	Re: Tie rod question Personally I would remove the bow. With that said it won't really hurt a thing. __________________ http://www.abarnyard.com/

01-06-2013, 11:44 PM	#3
pat in Santa Cruz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: santa cruz, calif Posts: 2,011	Re: Tie rod question you can straighten it easily by hand using a vice, your arms and a good eye for straight. You will have to re-align the toe in afterwards.

01-06-2013, 11:54 PM	#4
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: Tie rod question the trouble with any straight piece of metal with a bow in it ,it will just get worse over time and with use, if you have a new one i would replace it, if not go with the one you have and just keep an eye on your alighnment

01-07-2013, 12:28 AM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Tie rod question Every original tie rod I've seen has been hollow and is easy to straighten. I've also seen replacements that are solid.

01-07-2013, 08:19 AM	#7
Ross/Kzoo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richland Mi. Posts: 1,172	Re: Tie rod question My eye isn't that good so I would take a 2 X 4 and cut it just shorter than the length between the adjusting bolts. Then rip a 45 degree V about 1/2" deep. when you then lay your tie rod on it you will be able see where it needs correcting.

01-07-2013, 10:24 AM	#9
mkmskm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 202	Re: Tie rod question I used my vise partly open with a towel to hold in like a V and it bent back to straight. I wonder why they were hollow, I think it would have been easier to just thread a solid rod.

01-07-2013, 10:54 AM	#10
Jazzjr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Crown Point, NY and Punta Gorda, FL. Posts: 259	Re: Tie rod question 55 Years ago, I used to hang around a Welding-Machine Shop, and learned a lot of Tricks of the Trade. Most of the Machinery was powered by overhead Belt System down to the Tool being used. Powered by 1 large Electric Motor, each Lathe, Drill press, Grinders, Power Hacksaw etc. had a Clutch to engage, with a large Lever to the overhead Belt to run each machine. An old time Machinist showed me how check for Straightness of Axles, and Round Bars such as a Tie Rod. They had lengths of Angle Iron that were Known to be Straight, and were checked often by using a Master Straight Edge. They varied in size from 1/4 in to 4in. If a Tie Rod was to be checked they would use a piece of 3/4 or 1 in, you could see where it was bent by looking down the side of the angle over the top. To straighten a Tie Rod or Axle, some were done Cold, some they would heat it in Coal Fire, then into a Vise with 16 in Straightening Jaws. If the pieces need to be Hardened they used Water and or Oil bath. Here is a link to a video to a Old Time Over Head Belt System, similar to the one I hung around at. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE-j7TEVX2U Last edited by Jazzjr; 01-07-2013 at 11:12 AM.

01-07-2013, 11:07 AM	#11
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,089	Re: Tie rod question 1/8" is nothing, don't worry about it. When I was a truck mechanic we straightened them while still on the truck, so they only got "close-enough", and they worked just fine. The one on my widebed is at least a 1/4" out, and has been for years, no tire wear!

01-07-2013, 11:49 AM	#12
Al 29Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 648	Re: Tie rod question It isn't touching to wishbone is it?

01-07-2013, 12:37 PM	#13
mkmskm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 202	Re: Tie rod question Nope, just noticed the slight wobble as I rotated it.

01-07-2013, 01:03 PM	#14
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Tie rod question Someone must have tried to tow my A by connecting to the tie rod. It was bent obout 4" from straight. I straightened it on the vehicle with a bottle jack and wood blocks. It turned out pretty good. I cannot see how 1/4 inch or even more is going to make a bit of difference. I would say if you are worried about the tie rod breaking or bending under normal use, you have too few REAL things to worry about. Take off a few of the lugs nuts on a front wheel and drive down a curvy road at 60mph, you'll be thinking about that wheel so hard you won't even remember the tie rod!!! Just a joke, take it that way.

01-07-2013, 09:18 PM	#15
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,342	Re: Tie rod question You could try turning it so the bow is down, put a jack under it at the low spot and push it up. Might be easier then getting it off under the car.

01-08-2013, 09:33 AM	#16
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Tie rod question redmodelt, Thats what I did except used wood blocks on each side of the bend so I didn't get a "s". Mine is nice and straight now.

01-08-2013, 11:46 AM	#17
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Tie rod question If the tie rod gets bent after the toe in was set, it will cause the toe in to be off the amount that the tie rod is bent. I have straightened bent tie rods and brake rods with a large anvil and a two pound hammer. Place the part on the flat area on top of the anvil and hammer the the high point down. You can roll the tie rod on the flat of the anvil and it will show if the tie rod is straight. It is probably best to just replace the tie rod.