Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
So... I've noticed that many tv shows where they are doing the home mechnicky car stuff seem to revel in lecturing on tie rod end removal and installation. I've seen quite a few shows now where the mechanic looks studiously into the camera and intones "...count the number of turns it takes to remove the old tie rod so you know how many turns to use installing the new one...."
I have questions about this for a couple of reasons: i. what if your replacement tie rod is a slightly different length? (happened to me, though granted it was only millimetres, and I'm sure there are variances in different tie rod end manufacturers) and ii. why not just use where the locknut is? (once the tie rod is just loose, just snug up the locknut and secure with tape if necessary if it isn't already stiff -which by the way has been all the tie rod locknuts I've ever encountered).
Am I missing something here?
I have questions about this for a couple of reasons: i. what if your replacement tie rod is a slightly different length? (happened to me, though granted it was only millimetres, and I'm sure there are variances in different tie rod end manufacturers) and ii. why not just use where the locknut is? (once the tie rod is just loose, just snug up the locknut and secure with tape if necessary if it isn't already stiff -which by the way has been all the tie rod locknuts I've ever encountered).
Am I missing something here?