The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop "modern" tie rod ends on a 3/4 ton AD truck

3/4 ton AD trucks have steering arms with tapered holes and the stock ball studs are also tapered bolted affairs. This makes the aftermarket tie rod "modern" ends non-usable since they have straight studs too loose in the tapered holes. Does anyone know if there is a compatible version for 3/4 ton trucks or another end which will fit and is usable when replacing the old ball stud/sloppy socket types? :confused:

I've got a 53 3/4 ton. I got mine from Chevs of the 40s, but I think most of the major vendors carry them.

I got replacement "modern style" tie rod ends for my '51 3/4 ton from LMC, lmctrucks.com.

Are the "modern" tie-rod ends bigger and bulkier than the original? My tie-rod ends barely clear my wheels.

Thanks!!

My understanding (limited as it is) is that the "modern" tie rod ends are actually a little smaller than the original, allowing more clearance with the wheels. I could be totally wrong, this is just what I have heard.

I can only speak about the 1/2 ton version, and they are about 1/4 inch shorter beyond the stud center plus are rounded rather than a square end. They would provide a little improvement.
Is everyone sure the replacements have the tapered stud to match the hole in the steering arm? I'll be trying to track these down soon. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure that one ton and 3/4 ton are the same. I just replaced the tie rod ends on my 1 ton panel and the ones I got from Carter's fit perfectly.

The stock 1/2 & 3/4 ton tie rod pn #367528 (43 5/16" x 3/4") has male threads on the ends. The replacement "modern" ends have an integral straight stud, which fits great in the 1/2 ton steering arms (after the old ball stud is removed from the arm). The problem is with the 3/4 ton arms. They have a "bolted" ball stud which fits into a tapered hole larger than the 1/2 tons (added strength?). The replacement ends are too loose in these holes to work.
I think the one ton tie rod is different, and the ends have male threads to connect to it. Perhaps the one ton rod could be substituted for the 3/4 ton rod. Anyone tried this?

Splash,
The 'modern' tie rod ends that I ordered from Chevs of the 40s for my 3/4 ton (about 6 months ago) had a tapered and threaded ball stud that fit in the steering arm holes perfectly. Have you called and spoken to any of the vendors?

Jeff, I was trying to get away from the ball stud attached to the steering arm and go to the type like what is available for the 1/2 tons, with an integral stud on the end. That is where the confusion is. From what I can gather the "modern" type is not out there for a 3/4 ton truck.

Splash,
Sorry to beat this into the ground, but I guess I'm still confused. I scanned in the picture of the "modern" tie rod ends from the most recent LMC catalog (aside: this catalog is well worth the few bucks, just for the pictures).

[img]http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chevy53/images/tierod.gif[/img]

Is this what you are referring to? If so, you will notice from the drawing that the stud is tapered and threaded. Also notice that LMC (and Chevs of the 40s in their newest catalog) list this item as working on both the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. This is the exact part I purchased last fall and it works great on my 53 3/4 ton.

Thanks Jeff! I had both LMC and Chev's of 40's catalogs, but they were old ones, plus looked at the web site at Chev's of 40's and did not see 'em called out for 3/4 tons. That is exactly what I am looking for.

Jeff, Thanks for clarifying this tie rod issue.
One more tip, I used a fork type tie rod end separator tool I found at Discount Auto Parts ($12.00) along with an open end wrench to take up some slop and had no trouble removing the old tie rod ends studs from the steering arms.

Well, now here's a dumb question. In the LMC drawing above, the tie rod end goes into the steering arm from the bottom. On my 1953 3600 the taper in the steering arm hole goes from wide at the top to narrow at the bottm and the tie rod end could only go in from the top. The drawing in the shop manual seems to indicate the same thing. Are the 1/2 and 3/4 ton different in this respect? That is, do the tie rod ends on the 1/2 tons go in from the bottom and the 3/4 ton go in from the top?

As far as I can remember the new tie rods ends went in just like the diagram you submitted, I'm at work right now and can't run out and look under the truck. Also My truck is a 51.

I think the tie rod should be on top of the arms as with the original ball stud arms setup. I think the drawing is incorrect in that respect. Let's chew this around and be sure though!

I just ran outside and looked at my 48 - 3/4 ton and my tie rod is above the ball joint, opposite from the diagram.
Ralph

I've viewed those drawings in the LMC catalogs as useful for picking out the part you are seeking, but not necessarily accurate for the actual installation. Trying to confirm that a part listed a vendors catalog can be very frustrating and time consuming, however. The drawings are useful for that and a real time saver sometimes.
I have the '29-'54 Master Parts Catalog on a cd I bought ($10 off ebay) and it is also at the Manuals Online website which is a really great service. You 'bolters are also a huge help!

I stand corrected, I just looked under my truck and the tie rod is on top, so the studs with tapered shaft go into the steering arm from the top.

Many modern vehicles have them coming in from the bottom so that if the nut is too tight on the threads you can put a jack on the bottom of the tie rod end to keep it from spinning when you assemble it or take it off.