The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Confused Tie Rod ends

i just received new tie rod ends from Classic Parts of America. I have a 1953 Chevy 1/2 ton made in Canada. the ends on the truck all original are of the theaded male type. i was sent the new ones are female. i calle dand was told they never heard of the male type. can anyone help me with this. i have looked at all years up to 1959.

A 1953 Canadian Chevy truck should have the same tie rod ends as an American built truck. There is a ball (not threaded) which fits into a socket and is held in place by cups and a spring. There is a screw head on the end of the tie rod which can be used to tighten/loosen the retaining cups on the rod.

thanks for your info i will check them out when i get home on Saturday thanks again.

My tie rod ends on the 1 Ton have male threads and I understand that the 1/2 Tons are female. My truck is a 51 Canadian GMC. Here is the guy that I bought my NOS tierod ends from. He knows his stuff. He has an Email address but I don't have it at the moment.

Pure Vintage Auto Parts
420 Main St. E , STE. 577
Milton Ontario
Canada L9T5G3

I too am having tie rod end troubles.....Look at this link . Your original tie rod ends should look like the drawing. There is ball-stud in the steering arm and the old-style tie rod end is kind of barrel shaped with cups and springs and a threaded end plug like olblu49 described. It has female threads and screws on the ends of the tie rod and has a clamp. Do the new ones you bought look like the picture? I think the TF series (55-2nd and later) tie rod ends have the male threads. Maybe somebody else will add-to the discussion. Good luck.

bbake; I think all the 1/2 and 3/4 ton tie rod ends from 1934 to 1954 had female threads, the male threads were on the tie rod. If you have something different it's possible they were changed out by a PO. You will have to buy an original tie rod to make your new ends work.

I was under the understanding that the ball and cup ones change in '53 to the 'conventional ones'. (??)

I take exception to that article describing how dangerous the original design was. I don't remember reading about a lot of incidents where the tie rod ends separated, in fact I think that they stood up pretty well. Further to that, the modern style also uses a spring inside. The spring breaking does not cause it to separate. The spring is used to limit the maximum force spike that is delivered through the joint. Yes the new design is better but the hype is baloney.

If you go for the modern style tie-rod ends... driving out the old ball studs can take some force. YES I ground the pressed end flush to the forged (not cast, CPP) steering arms.

I also recommend a new tie rod... my old one was wavy from catching on things. Also quite easy to bend (noticed when I put it on the ground and stepped on it). Must not have had a heat treat.

bbake you can try Mid-Canada suspension in Winnipeg PH: 204-475-3399 Fax: 204-257-8466
this guy is the (OLD) suspesion parts guru he has parts in his little place in original packages by the thousands and he knows what was original and what will work if it was modded give him a try. I can't remember his name at this moment but he is extremely knowledgable.

DS

thank you everyone i will be taking all leads i have now and i will let you know what comes of it.
Thanks again everyone.

Phils, Did you replace your's with original style or modern replacment type? If modern, where the rod ends tapered or straight? See my post here.

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