Tie Rod Question

[tim_and_bobbi_blazer]

My tie rod is appears to be bent pretty good. I'm wondering if any of you have ever had one like this. Is it bad enough to worry about? Can it be fixed? Does anyone know where I can get another one? Will later model trucks tie rods fit 1972 4x4 Blazers? Have attempted to add pictures but don't know if they went or not.

thank you

Bobbi

[LUV2XCLR8]

Tim, Mine Were All Replaced, If You Are Doing A Resto / Frame Off
I Would Just Consider Replacing It Now While Your In The Middle
Of It All, A Slight Bend Will Probably Not Be An Issue, But It Is A
Slight Possibility It Could Effect Your Front End Alignment.

[tim_and_bobbi_blazer]

Yes, I'd like to replace it now. I added pictures to my Yahoo page. Can't get them to up load here. If you'd care to look at them, I pasted the link below. If you have a source for a new tie rod, please let me know.

Bobbi

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tim_an...Zrc1BBRjwB5BOS

[Gee_Emm]

Any parts store should have tie rod ends

[MAC67]

get ready to shell out the bucks for those little golden tie rod ends ,

[tim_and_bobbi_blazer]

My tie rod ends are new. The part I'm looking for is the tie rod it's self.

Thank you

Bobbi

[jhow66]

Take it off and have it straighten. Then have the toe in reset. (looks like it has been bumped).

[ChevyDude]

I just got done replaceing my tie rods inner/outer. It wasn't too bad on the wallet. I painted mine to match. The passenger side that is missing in the pic was drying at the time pic was taken

[tim_and_bobbi_blazer]

Just talked with my good friend Kenny up at Kennys (kennystrucks.com). He says the 73- are the same so I got options now. Thanks again to everyone who replied.

Bobbi

[jeffer]

I'm suprised by the statement that the '73 up is the same. I found that not to be the case at all. For 67-72 4wd trucks, the tie rod ends are relatively short (5" or so) and the adjusting sleeve (tie rod) is very long (48" or so can't remember exactly.)
The '73 up has one short tie rod end (5" or so) one very long tie rod end (50" or so) w/ a hole in it for the steering stabilizer (not the u-bolt clamp like you have), and the adjusting sleeve (tie rod) is about 6" or so. I don't know if you could replace the whole setup (ends and adjusting sleeve) from a '73, but your ends would not work. I just went to Napa online to confirm my memory. Parts from the '73 are very different from a '72.

Mine was bent much worse than yours. I could not get the toe right and it ended up eating up the tires. I ended up buying a used one from a 67-72 4wd pickup (searched and searched for a new one, got the used one from Cheyenne Parts Northeast for like $50). Polished it up, coated it in POR-15 and it was good as new. You might also give these guys a look. www.rockstomper.com When I was looking, the only rod they offered required going to bigger ends and thus milling out the knuckle.

[tim_and_bobbi_blazer]

Kenny might be asleep at the wheel. I'm still in the market for a stock one if I can find one.

Bobbi

[Jdog44]

I bent the hell out of my tie rod on a boulder will doing a river crossing. imagine my surprize when i coudnt buy one . If i remember right i bought one from a 76 blazer. But i think the taper on the tie rod ends where they bolt on where different .