Hi all! New member here. I've been reading this forum for a few years, and it's been a great source of information. But now I could use some help, and I can't find the answer just browsing.

I've got a really neat 1970 F250 4WD Crew Cab. I've had it a few years. The previous owner had added power steering assist, but it appears to have come from an F100. Like all those power assist units, the hydraulic piston leaks like crazy. You might as well just pour the fluid on your driveway.

The front end has some real slop in it, and after adding new tires, the steering will sometimes go into resonance at about 30 miles per hour. I'm determined to put it back to stock (with a stabilizer), as manual steering doesn't bother me a bit.

I want to start by replacing the tie rod ends, the drag link, and adding the steering stabilizer kit. The problem is that the tie rod tube is gone. The F100, where the existing parts came from, does not use one. Look at the lower diagram on this page from LMC: Truck Parts and Truck Accessories That's what I have now. Look at the upper picture, and you can see the tie rod tube is grayed out, meaning LMC doesn't sell it. For some reason, they stock the one for the older 2WD version (see Part #2 on the top diagram here: Truck Parts and Truck Accessories). Based on the tie rod ends being different part numbers, I'm thinking the tubes are not the same.

I've looked everywhere online for this part, and I cannot locate a junked '59-'72 4WD F250 anywhere. Does anyone know who might have one?

Thanks in advance.

 

If you can't locate a tie-rod tube, and since you're replacing the tie-rod ends anyway, another option would be to buy the tie-rod ends listed for a 73-77.5 F250 4WD.

The 73-77.5 doesn't use a tie-rod tube, instead, it uses one very long tie-rod end (50") and one regular tie-rod end (6"), with only one adjusting sleeve.

 

stupid question but have you tried the local parts house?
We used to get them from local parts houses.
The clerks at chain stores will sometime look at you funny but a real parts house should have what you need.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heisenberg

The problem is that the tie rod (spindle connecting) tube is gone. I cannot locate a junked '59 '72 4WD F250 anywhere.

Welcome to FTE

C7TZ-3281-A .. Tube Assy-Spindle Connecting Rod-49 1/2" long ~ Includes 2 clamps, nuts & bolts / 1967/72 F250 4WD / Obsolete

TWO available NOS / Send me an email (sylhall@aol.com) for the sources. Very hard to find new, if I post the sources here, someone might snag them.

1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog is available on a CD from hipoparts.com

 

Thansk everyone for the replies.

NumberDummy, I'll send you an email. And you are correct... the year range is '67-'72, not '59-'72. The incorrect year range I used was from the top of the LMC Truck page. Now that I look closer at their parts list, they show that the page covers three different year ranges.

 

Computer glitch, dog knocked out power cord, no email received, send it again.

 

Hey Don't know if you found a tie-rod tube yet but maybe by the end of this month I'll be pulling my whole drum axle out and replacing it with a 1976 disc axle setup unit. I had rebuild my old drum axle a few yrs ago. New tie-moog rod ends replaced the tube with a straight one out of the junk yd. Rebuilt the brake backing plates. Also replaced the u-joint, New spindles & all bearings & all seals. $$$$..
I just pulled the ring & pinion too reuse in my disc brake axle. So Monday I'll take to a rear end shop and have them set it up the RP then,
I'll put it all back together and the have a guy help me at his place . Then this extra stuff will need a new home..Orich
So I'll have some of this stuff for sale pretty soon, My axle is rated 3300
f250 1971

 

Thanks for the offer. With the help of NumbersDummy, I found a new (old) OEM tube. And by the way, the new tie rod ends and drag link make a huge difference. I have an interesting story about the tie rods ends, but I think that will be a new thread, since the subject is quite different.