Putting in Tie Rod ends. HELP, Please.
 

1981 300D

Got ends out. Put new ones on threaded adjusting sleeve. The threads on the tie rod end do not stick through enough to get the nut on them. Anyone have any tricks or tool suggestions? Thanks.

Is the rod end still loose in the rod sleeve? You may have to rotate it a bit to get it to go in straight. Wiggle the wheel while you push up on the joint into the arm. Unless you have the wrong end? Compare it to the old one.

I really should not admit this. . . .
 

But I feel I should close the thread for any other bone heads like me.
The tie rod end threads stick through plenty when you put them in the side they were supposed to go.

I had it stuck in my head I poppeh the outer end out of the top of the tie rod bar. And was very determined to put it in through the top. As I was explaining in detail my problem to a friend and showing him how it fit nicely coming through the bottom of the tie rod bar , I slowed down enough to observe the impossibility of the it ever going in through the top and thus ever coming out of the top of the tie rod bar.

To say the least, the experience gave me a good and much needed attitude adjustment. And there may be a moral here -- never be too certain of what you believe.

harry truman
 

used to say "it isnt what you dont know that gets you in trouble.... it is what you know for sure (and dont bother to check)".

tom w

actually i paraphrased harry a little

You know what, when I typed my reply to you, I actually typed out something about orientation, but then backspaced over it. Sorry, I could have helped early on.
I think way back in 1972 or so, when I had my first car, a 1968 GTO, I did exactly the same thing you just did. Like the engine, I ripped the front apart without looking very carefully. What the heck, I had a lot of success with my engine rebuild, so, how hard could a front steering system be? Fortunately for me, there was a Pontiac mechanic living across the street. He gave me an earful on observation. He taught me a lot. But not until I totally screwed up my rear drum brakes did he really let me have it. I got the "Don't you listen to me" speach, and "why do you keep asking me for help speach if you don't listen" speach. The one that hurt was "What kinda gearhead are ya - ya can't even put brakes together".

"The hardest part of learning is to forget what you already know."