The tie rod on my 56 F250 is bent . It looks like someone towed the truck with a chain around the tie rod and axel . I can get it back straight , should I brace it with a peace of angle ? leave it , or get a new solid one . I am trying to keep cost down on this build . Want to get body work and paint, new brake system , and motor all done then drive it before thinking about , different gears , disk brakes, power steering , and seats .

 

Bracing it with an angle iron should do the trick. Just make sure that the ends where tine outer tie rods are screwed in are straight and not bent. I have a tie rod from a 48-52 parts truck that has the angle iron treatment.

 

I agree, but I would look for an undamaged one in the meantime. The parts book shows the replacement was changed to a "universal" one, TAAA-3281-A, that works for almost all 53-on models. The tube is 7/8" diameter and 47 -7/8" long, but somehow replaces ones that were various lengths and even 1" diameter ones.

I wouldn't use heat to straighten it.

 

Sorry guys... I would replace tie rod (along with new tie rod ends) if your at the point of driving it... I bent one and straitened it and had nothing but problems afterwards until I replaced it...

 

The original 'spindle connecting rod' came with the tie rod ends, the FoMoCo "service part replacement" did not.

TAAA-3281-A .. Spindle Connecting Rod / Obsolete

1953/58 F100/250 / 1959/60 F100/250 2WD

MILLER OBSOLETE PARTS in Binghamton NY has ONE = 607-722-5371.

HENRYETTA FORD in Henryetta OK has ONE = 888-922-3673.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has TWO = 800-543-4959.

 

Thanks for the help , Number Dummy

 

With all the IFS stuff going on, someone has to have a good used one.

 

I put it in the press and it straightened out rather easy . I put a solid one from midfiffty on the panel truck maybe I will go that route .

 

If it was bent once, it's structure is molecularly weakened and therefore even more likely to bend again. Replace it with a new heavy duty one, they aren't expensive, and the steering is too important to risk using butchered parts.

 

In use, the loads are purely axial. As long as it is really straight, there's nothing to make it bend. If it's not really straight, it could buckle, but it would take a very large load to cause it (like sliding into a curb).

 

If it is the same length as a '52 F-1 send me a PM & I can help you out . Have a spare tie rod in the parts corner . Later , Denny

 

It's not worth the risk to you, your family or the other drivers on the road.

Not a really expensive part, change it and be safe.

 

I'll throw in with the "replace it" crowd. You can save money in a less critical place.

 

If you're going to do any of the Mods you mention above you'll still be using the Tie Rod aka spindle connecting rod. So get a new Heavy duty one (maybe even a kit with the heavy duty ends) and you'll be GOOD TO GO: even if you do a Toyota power steering and disk brake swap later!!