Hi Everyone,

When I went to install my suspension kit, I discovered that the outer tie rod end on the passenger side was left hand thread. The replacement supplied was right hand thread (same as driver's side). When I started researching this part (Napa, etc), they all show the same part number for both sides...

The car is a '68 Dart 270 4Dr, 225.

I'll put a call into the supplier later today, but does anyone have an idea why my tie rod end seems to be different than what's in the catalogs?

Thanks! -Mac

If they find the same part number for inner and outer tie rod ends, they are wrong.
The tie rod ends have to have opposite threads to allow adjustment by turning the sleeve - think turnbuckle.
What numbers are you getting?
Rock Auto seems to have the correct numbers.
I just looked up the parts on napaonline, and got different numbers for innner and outer. Maybe the parts guy got confused?
I'm glad I never get confused.

_________________
"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

SlantValiant -
Nope, it's my two OUTER tie rod ends that are different. The (original?) outer tie rod end on the passenger side has a left hand thread, while the outer tie rod end on the driver's side has a right hand thread.

But the numbers on NAPA show the same part number for both the driver's and passenger's side outer tie rod ends.

I'm lost!

-Mac

Uh...

Don't you suppose someone simply put a tie-rod assembly (inner/outer ends and sleeve) in backwards??? In other words, someone mixed up inner and outer ends somewhere along the way. It'll work just fine either way, but it will turn the opposite way from factory prescribed to adjust.

D/W

_________________

If it ain't broke, fix it!

I side with Dennis on this. Check your inners and compare with each other, then check/compare the outers. I suspect you'll find a left thread on an inner, and a left thread on the opposite outer.

Roger

I didn't know we were taking "sides" regarding this...

D/W

_________________

If it ain't broke, fix it!

The "numbers" of the tie rods may have been the same - But look at the
"letters". Letters should be R (on the outer) and the other L
(on the inner) indicating the direction of the threads.

NAPA Online is finally back online.
I get NCP 2692119 (inner) for NCP 2692120 (outer)from the NAPA site.
http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/ncomm ... rg_string=
Moog: ES319L (inner) and ES319R (outer)
AC Delco: 45A0029 (inner) and 45A0030 (outer).
Like Dennis said, it's pretty likely someone simply reversed the assembly somewhere along the line. No biggie. Easy to check, not too bad to change, and really doesn't matter much.
Personally, I'm going to 11/16 tie rods on my Valiant as soon as the sleeves come in.

_________________
"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

Ok, thanks guys. So the only difference between an inner and outer tie rod end is the threading?

So it looks like I should order the correct inner tie rod end, then turn the threaded shaft around when I install it (and my new outer end).

Mystery solved!

BTW, the suspension kits are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Not too bad to install on a weekend, and remarkable improvement in handling. Highly recommended to anyone trying to keep a 40 year old A-Body between the ditches!

Thanks again!

-Mac