Quote:
Originally Posted by Mxfrank
Every tie rod has one left hand thread and one right hand thread. A tie rod can be used on either side as long as the offsets of the rod ends are correct and the lengths of the tube are equal. You can even install them end for end backwards. If all the rod ends are the same, the very worst that would happen by mixing them up is that the alignment tech would have 30 seconds of confusion when setting toe. The illustrations are rod ends for a 190d. The one with the "bend" is the right inner, and should always be installed in the correct position. The other three rod ends are all straight. More and more aftermarket tie rods are coming with four straight rod ends. There doesn't seem to be any obvious affect to steering or handling, and I've probably inadvertantly swapped left and right many times.
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Perhaps I am mixing terminology. On a 126, the entire tie rod assembly on 1 side of the car (passenger or driver) can be flipped so the inner tie rod becomes the outer. The inner and outer tie rods have different threads. One is right handed, the other left handed. You may end up getting the wrong part when for example, you order the outer tie rod and the assembly has been flipped. Working from memory, the FSM says that there is no ill effect in regards to being able to adjust the toe.
I buy mine locally unless I'm buying the entire assembly to avoid shipping the wrong part back and having to wait on delivery time. Last time I bought Moog and haven't had to change them but haven't checked records to know how many miles have rolled by. Tie rods are one of the easier suspension jobs.