differences in tierods? (years) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**kev2809** · 06-08-2010, 06:47 PM

i got a few bucks to mess around with and i might as well replace the tie rods and sleeves since i got the front end apart. i was checking out rockauto because they have by far the cheapest priced parts. but, since im ordering online, i would like to make sure i get the right part the first time. how can you tell the difference in years for the tierods?

my truck is a 67 that had disc brakes on it, so the po had already started upgrading the suspension. im not sure what year they replaced everything with. i bought new 67 spindles (63-70), 73 rotors, bearings, and calipers. i want to make sure i get the right tie rods for what i have. thanks for any help!

**lolife99** · 06-08-2010, 07:12 PM

tie rods from 67-70 are the same, and the rest are grouped 71-72, and 73-87.

**kev2809** · 06-08-2010, 08:04 PM

so could I just get 67-70 tie rods since I have 63-70 spindles?

**lolife99** · 06-08-2010, 09:36 PM

Yes for the outers.
Is the centerlink original?
Was your truck a drum brake truck when you got it,... or had it been changed to disc already?

**kev2809** · 06-08-2010, 09:41 PM

not sure. the truck was already switched over to disc brake when i bought it.

**lolife99** · 06-08-2010, 10:07 PM

Can you post a pic of your front suspension?

**kev2809** · 06-08-2010, 10:13 PM

ya, ill snap a pic when i get off of work tomorrow

**michael bustamante** · 06-09-2010, 02:41 PM

"my truck is a 67 that had disc brakes on it, so the po had already started upgrading the suspension. im not sure what year they replaced everything with. i bought new 67 spindles (63-70), 73 rotors, bearings, and calipers. i want to make sure i get the right tie rods for what i have. thanks for any help! "
67 spindles will be for drum only. these will not support 73 and up rotors. chances are that if the front end already has rotors then the steering rack was swapped as well, When you buy them, Ive noticed some of the suppliers have the same part #s as o reillies (hmm) you might be able to avoid shippingcharges. I swapped to 72 front end and used the tie rods, the outers were I believe the same from 71-87 just go to o reillies and look up 72 tie rod ends and an. . .lets say 78 chevy truck and see if the part #s are the same

raycow · 06-09-2010, 04:45 PM

I agree with the above. The parts combination you described will not bolt up if you use all factory parts. You need to determine what kind of spindles you have before buying any tie rod ends.

Ray

**lolife99** · 06-09-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raycow

I agree with the above. The parts combination you described will not bolt up if you use all factory parts. You need to determine what kind of spindles you have before buying any tie rod ends.

Ray

I believe he bought 63-70 conversion drop spindle.
The problem is he doesn't know what year disc brake parts were installed by the previous owner.

raycow · 06-09-2010, 04:57 PM

Oh, that makes it easier then. The aftermarket conversion spindles I have looked at take stock 63-70 tie rod ends so you can keep your stock center link.

Ray

**lolife99** · 06-09-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raycow

Oh, that makes it easier then. The aftermarket conversion spindles I have looked at take stock 63-70 tie rod ends so you can keep your stock center link.
Ray

The PO swapped the stock height disc brake stuff onto the truck.
That's what I'm trying to find out,... if the steering linkage has been changed.
It may have all 73-87 stuff under it.

**michael bustamante** · 06-09-2010, 05:44 PM

take pics of the tie rod ends inner and outer and if you can, measure the thickness. The 71-and up tr ends are alot thicker that 63-70 tr ends in the threaded area. if you have a buddy with a 63-70 look at his, the difference in thickness is obvious

**kev2809** · 06-09-2010, 06:25 PM

heres some pics, i know they are crappy, i took them with my phone

heres the middle centerlink, with years of crud all over it lol

tie rod

and where the tie rod meets the centerlink

**lolife99** · 06-09-2010, 10:26 PM

The crossmember and everything look original.
I would try to buy '67 tie rod ends.
The a-arms are definitely 67-72 style with the steel bushings.

**kev2809** · 06-09-2010, 10:52 PM

the lowers I bought..they are from a 70. the uppers are what came on the truck when I bought it. I guess ill just buy the 67-70 inners and outers and hope they work.

also, for the adjusting sleeve, does it matter if you have manual steering or power?

mine has power, but the price for the ones that say for manual is like $6 a piece. the price for the sleeves for power is like $30 piece. big difference!

raycow · 06-09-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev2809

also, for the adjusting sleeve, does it matter if you have manual steering or power?

mine has power, but the price for the ones that say for manual is like $6 a piece. the price for the sleeves for power is like $30 piece. big difference!

That's only if you have factory PS with the external cylinder. If you added PS later with an integral gearbox, use the manual sleeve.

Ray

**kev2809** · 06-10-2010, 06:13 AM

ah ok..good info. I'm pretty sure its not stock ps...thanks

**michael bustamante** · 06-10-2010, 06:30 PM

it looks like the whole front crossmember has been swapped, notice the tab for the brake line is in the front of the crossmember, 63-70 have that tab in the back. it looks like you have a 71 72 set up there with 67-70 tie rod ends hooked up , that might be why that boot is torn. It might not be correct for the hub thats on there now. (not seating correctly)

06-08-2010, 06:47 PM	#1
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	differences in tierods? (years) i got a few bucks to mess around with and i might as well replace the tie rods and sleeves since i got the front end apart. i was checking out rockauto because they have by far the cheapest priced parts. but, since im ordering online, i would like to make sure i get the right part the first time. how can you tell the difference in years for the tierods? my truck is a 67 that had disc brakes on it, so the po had already started upgrading the suspension. im not sure what year they replaced everything with. i bought new 67 spindles (63-70), 73 rotors, bearings, and calipers. i want to make sure i get the right tie rods for what i have. thanks for any help! __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-08-2010, 07:12 PM	#2
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,701	Re: differences in tierods? (years) tie rods from 67-70 are the same, and the rest are grouped 71-72, and 73-87. __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

06-08-2010, 08:04 PM	#3
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	Re: differences in tierods? (years) so could I just get 67-70 tie rods since I have 63-70 spindles? __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-08-2010, 09:36 PM	#4
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,701	Re: differences in tierods? (years) Yes for the outers. Is the centerlink original? Was your truck a drum brake truck when you got it,... or had it been changed to disc already? __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

06-08-2010, 09:41 PM	#5
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	Re: differences in tierods? (years) not sure. the truck was already switched over to disc brake when i bought it. __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-08-2010, 10:07 PM	#6
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,701	Re: differences in tierods? (years) Can you post a pic of your front suspension? __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

06-08-2010, 10:13 PM	#7
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	Re: differences in tierods? (years) ya, ill snap a pic when i get off of work tomorrow __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-09-2010, 02:41 PM	#8
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,863	Re: differences in tierods? (years) "my truck is a 67 that had disc brakes on it, so the po had already started upgrading the suspension. im not sure what year they replaced everything with. i bought new 67 spindles (63-70), 73 rotors, bearings, and calipers. i want to make sure i get the right tie rods for what i have. thanks for any help! " 67 spindles will be for drum only. these will not support 73 and up rotors. chances are that if the front end already has rotors then the steering rack was swapped as well, When you buy them, Ive noticed some of the suppliers have the same part #s as o reillies (hmm) you might be able to avoid shippingcharges. I swapped to 72 front end and used the tie rods, the outers were I believe the same from 71-87 just go to o reillies and look up 72 tie rod ends and an. . .lets say 78 chevy truck and see if the part #s are the same __________________ 1967custom

06-09-2010, 04:45 PM	#9
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: differences in tierods? (years) I agree with the above. The parts combination you described will not bolt up if you use all factory parts. You need to determine what kind of spindles you have before buying any tie rod ends. Ray

06-09-2010, 04:57 PM	#11
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: differences in tierods? (years) Oh, that makes it easier then. The aftermarket conversion spindles I have looked at take stock 63-70 tie rod ends so you can keep your stock center link. Ray

06-09-2010, 05:44 PM	#13
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,863	Re: differences in tierods? (years) take pics of the tie rod ends inner and outer and if you can, measure the thickness. The 71-and up tr ends are alot thicker that 63-70 tr ends in the threaded area. if you have a buddy with a 63-70 look at his, the difference in thickness is obvious __________________ 1967custom

06-09-2010, 06:25 PM	#14
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	Re: differences in tierods? (years) heres some pics, i know they are crappy, i took them with my phone heres the middle centerlink, with years of crud all over it lol tie rod and where the tie rod meets the centerlink __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-09-2010, 10:26 PM	#15
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,701	Re: differences in tierods? (years) The crossmember and everything look original. I would try to buy '67 tie rod ends. The a-arms are definitely 67-72 style with the steel bushings. __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

06-09-2010, 10:52 PM	#16
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	Re: differences in tierods? (years) the lowers I bought..they are from a 70. the uppers are what came on the truck when I bought it. I guess ill just buy the 67-70 inners and outers and hope they work. also, for the adjusting sleeve, does it matter if you have manual steering or power? mine has power, but the price for the ones that say for manual is like $6 a piece. the price for the sleeves for power is like $30 piece. big difference! __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-10-2010, 06:13 AM	#18
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,182	Re: differences in tierods? (years) ah ok..good info. I'm pretty sure its not stock ps...thanks __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]



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06-10-2010, 06:30 PM	#19
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,863	Re: differences in tierods? (years) it looks like the whole front crossmember has been swapped, notice the tab for the brake line is in the front of the crossmember, 63-70 have that tab in the back. it looks like you have a 71 72 set up there with 67-70 tie rod ends hooked up , that might be why that boot is torn. It might not be correct for the hub thats on there now. (not seating correctly) __________________ 1967custom

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