quick question...doing tie rods
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Elder User
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quick question...doing tie rods
Quick question......where i live i dont exactly have flat ground and one of my jack stands broke.....can i replace my tie rod ends, center link and tie rod with the truck NOT lifted?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Dallas, TX
You can do it with the truck on the ground. It's easier if you can turn the wheels to get a better angle with tools, but you can still reach everything without raising it.
Just be sure to remember to mark the threads before you remove the old ones, then count the threads to get the new ones as close as possible before heading in for an alignment...
Just be sure to remember to mark the threads before you remove the old ones, then count the threads to get the new ones as close as possible before heading in for an alignment...
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Thank you gentlemen. Just what i needed to hear. I already counted 4 times the threads on both sides. And my wheel isnt centered when i drive straight.....so when i remove pitman arm i then straighten out my wheel then put it back on right?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Sumter SC
I don't believe you need to pull the pitman arm to change center link or tie rod ends. You can center the steering wheel by add/ subtract turns on tie rod ends, just don't lose track of where you are.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Dallas, TX
Yes and no. If the wheel isn't straight, the question should be: why? Did someone remove the wheel and not put it on straight? Or did someone remove the pitman arm and then not put it back together correctly?
It's been a while since I've had either apart, so I can't remember if there are indexing splines on either the steering wheel or pitman arm...
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: SW Colorado
My f-350s steering boxes have the alignment splines on the shaft to the Pitman arm, so removing the Pitman arm is not necessary. I expect your steering box is configured the same way. To center the steering wheel, you have to adjust the length of the drag link.
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Remember f150s and f250s use different steering I couldn't find the right parts in a complete set so I ordered parts from 3-4 different places I ended up with both tie rods for the driver side being right hand thread I made a new threaded pipe piece 7/8-18 all the way through
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Is it possible to replace tie rods - assuming mechanic counted threads carefully - and everything goes OK, and therefore not lose the alignment, no need for it? I don't see why not, but then I better ask.
This would be 64 2WD F100, had it aligned many years ago. There's not much to it on these things I remember that much. Tires are wearing fine.
This would be 64 2WD F100, had it aligned many years ago. There's not much to it on these things I remember that much. Tires are wearing fine.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: okc
Counting threads doesn't always achieve the desired results. Sometimes the threads are cut different on aftermarket parts. It will get you pretty darn close in most cases though. Measuring from center to center on ALL of the rod ends is the best way. I always recommend replacing ALL the steering links at once, then lay them out side by side to match and compare. As long as you didn't loosen the clamps on the OE parts. It can be done on the ground, although it's not as easy to move the wheels to get it back together. If the steering wheel hasn't been removed before, it's centered by adjusting the tie rods in on one side and out on the other equally, either at the drag link, or center link. I forget which your truck has off the top of my head. By adjusting them equally but opposite, the alignment is unchanged, but the steering wheel position is altered.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Hm, OK. Yeah I watched the guy at Sears perform an alignment. Seems to me at one point after that I moved the steering wheel over a notch, on the splines, so it was centered going straight down the road after that. But I thought I'd have the tie rod ends replaced by a shop when I have some other work done, mainly because can't recall if/when they were done last. Thanks for explanation.
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