The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline tie rod right vs left?

Which end of the tie rod should have the reverse thread - driver or passenger side?

It doesn't matter. The tie rod ends are only relative to the tie rod it self.
Although you typically want to keep the nuts to the back.
dg

Yes, I believe so. Ha, ha. Honestly I don't know that it would make any difference in this type of front end.
Jon

It will work either way though it does matter If my memory is not wrong.

For when doing an alignment and you are adjusting toe when you need to bring both wheels in you should be moving both adjustment turns in the same direction. If moving the LF wheel in by moving the wrench to the front of the auto moving the RF wheel should have you move the wrench forward as well.

Though my disclaimer is it has been a long time since I did an alignment and never on a 1952 or 1954 Chevrolet truck.

I agree with Denny regarding orientation.

Regarding the adjustment:

If you are adjusting toe-in, you simply loosen the nuts on both tie rod ends and put a monkey wrench on the middle of the tie-rod and rotate the tie-rod.

1947-55 (and other years) toe-in adjustment

You are then either moving both sides inwards at the same time or both sides outwards at the same time (for either more toe-in or for more toe-out).

(Maybe I am mis-reading this thread - sorry.)

I see how it would not matter for adjustment; just wanted to know if there is a standard way. Can anybody check their threads?

The new style tie rod ends came with zerks facing one way and the nuts facing oppposite (though the nuts could be switched around).

I'm re-doing the front end in my 1952 half-ton and using the same new style tie rod ends. I thought about this since you asked (and I answered) this morning, but for the life of me I can not imagine how it would make any difference. In fact, I can't tell you how my old tie rod came out. As for the zerks, I'm just swapping the nuts to make the zerks easier to access. I have the same problem (inaccessible zerk) in a couple of other places.
Jon

So which way are the zerks facing on yours? Mine are facing forward at the moment but it is a frame only, so cant tell how access will be with sheet metal on.

Mine are facing toward the rear, but it would be just as easy to flip the tie rod and make them face to the front.
Jon

Logic says that if possible a grease fitting or threaded end of
a bolt would best be on the back side to minimize the chance of
being hit by something in the roadway or field.

dg

it only matters if you order one side and its wrong , Left thread is left side.