Date:         Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:02:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: tie rod removal...
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
In-Reply-To:  <024401c93895$97580360$6701a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> BUT ........if you're just doing it to replace a steering rack
> boot...........just unscrew the tie rod from the outer tie rod end.
> Count how many turns it is to unscrew it, so you can put it right back where
> it was.


Scott,

This will work if the old casting and threading are exactly the same
as the new casting and threading. A more fool-proof way is to measure
with the points of a sliding caliper or, better yet, a sliding dial
indicator caliper. Measure the distance between the center of the
knuckle "cap" where it's pressed into the casting and the first thread
on the tie rod or some other known point on the tie rod. The center of
the tie rod joint is always going to be the center no matter how the
rest of the casting and threading operation has changed from part to
part. This won't necessarily work if you change tie rods, too, because
then you lose the known reference point on the tie rod that you need,
in which case knowing where the center of the knuckle pin is won't be
enough for accurate alignment.

Jim