I’m replacing my tie rods and I measured the old ones at 58 3/16” apart. Now I’m putting it back together with the new ones and like an idiot I can’t remember if I measured from outside to outside of the stud part (where it attaches to the steering knuckles) or from the center of each stud. Right now there’s a bit of pigeon toe in my hubs. If someone could help me get the wheel alignment right that would be great.
CK5
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Tie rod length question.
- Thread starter Jake_C_
- Start date
The new parts may not be exactly the same as your originals so chances are the measurements wouldn't have helped much anyways..
You can simply measure the distance between the front rims,take one measurement from the rear of the rim about halfway up,and the same at the front ...it isn't so simple trying to do this alone with a tape measure however..you want the front measurement to be about 3/16" less than the rear one..
What I do to set toe in,is use something like two pieces of EMT conduit that will slide inside one another,I cut a slot in the larger one and use a hose clamp so I can slide the inner piece out and secure it --and position the front tires "straight ahead" and put the "measuring stick" at the points on the rims mentioned above and adjust the tie rod end until the rear measurement is 3/16" more than the front one..
If the steering wheel is off center after doing this,the drag link can be adjusted longer or shorter as needed to center it again..
You can simply measure the distance between the front rims,take one measurement from the rear of the rim about halfway up,and the same at the front ...it isn't so simple trying to do this alone with a tape measure however..you want the front measurement to be about 3/16" less than the rear one..
What I do to set toe in,is use something like two pieces of EMT conduit that will slide inside one another,I cut a slot in the larger one and use a hose clamp so I can slide the inner piece out and secure it --and position the front tires "straight ahead" and put the "measuring stick" at the points on the rims mentioned above and adjust the tie rod end until the rear measurement is 3/16" more than the front one..
If the steering wheel is off center after doing this,the drag link can be adjusted longer or shorter as needed to center it again..
Thank you, my biggest concern was if there was supposed to be some toe to it and if so how much. I thought there was supposed to be some but I couldn’t remember. This is perfect thanks.
Specs vary slightly from year to year but 1/8" to 1/4" is typical,bigger tires tend to like more toe in than stock sized ones..
I just use 3/16" and it seems to work on my trucks OK with normal sized tires..
I just use 3/16" and it seems to work on my trucks OK with normal sized tires..
My 87 is 0" of the per the book. So I put an 1/8 in it on 35" tires.
Like he said, 1/8" to 1/4" toe in should be good. You can clamp a couple pieces of angle iron or whatever to the rotors as a point to measure to. I set my initial toe with the axle on the bench while rebuilding. Once installed I needed no changes, 37" tire.
Toe in of an 1/8" at 16 inches from axle centerline is different than at 19 inches.
Most books I have say to use the center of the tire treads as a measuring point,but that can cause poor results if both tires aren't identical or are worn ..best to make sure the rims run true too,and have no runout in & out,that'll throw things way off..
I set the toe in measuring the rims about as high as the tie rod is on the front & rear and my tires don't wear out weird and no pulling, or squealing around corners,so it must be "close enough"..
Back when my friend had an alignment rack ,I had him measure the toe in for the hell of it after he did an oil change for me and I had put two "new to the truck" tires up front ,and adjusted the toe in at home-- and he said it was "within limits" and wasn't going to mess with it..
His alignment machine used magnetic devices that clamped to the wheel bearing area on the hubs,which is about the same height as where I measured the rims at..
I set the toe in measuring the rims about as high as the tie rod is on the front & rear and my tires don't wear out weird and no pulling, or squealing around corners,so it must be "close enough"..
Back when my friend had an alignment rack ,I had him measure the toe in for the hell of it after he did an oil change for me and I had put two "new to the truck" tires up front ,and adjusted the toe in at home-- and he said it was "within limits" and wasn't going to mess with it..
His alignment machine used magnetic devices that clamped to the wheel bearing area on the hubs,which is about the same height as where I measured the rims at..
