Better than OEM tie rod ends and suspension bushings?

[SkiFreak]

I see that you got the fast coloured boots.... cool.

I have often thought about modifying my drag link, adding a turnbuckle to the middle. This would allow for easy adjustment of the steering wheel position.
Currently, the only real option in that regard is to pull the steering wheel off its spline and position it as close to central as you can. Being the A Type personality that I am, when the steering wheel is not square it just annoys me.

 

[pugslyyy]

I see that you got the fast coloured boots.... cool.

I have often thought about modifying my drag link, adding a turnbuckle to the middle. This would allow for easy adjustment of the steering wheel position.
Currently, the only real option in that regard is to pull the steering wheel off its spline and position it as close to central as you can. Being the A Type personality that I am, when the steering wheel is not square it just annoys me.

Heh, I know what you mean. I pulled my steering wheel off and recentered it, so of course now it is off in the other direction.

 

[gait]

.....Being the A Type personality that I am, when the steering wheel is not square it just annoys me.

Sorry, can't resist .... special for you ....

I've invented the round steering wheel, with invisible floating spokes, rotating logo, static eccentric mag-lev ergonomic touch sensitive radio controls, fully adjustable self locking hydrostatic clutch drive, self adjusting in all directions with six degrees of freedom, including diameter, supplied with an extensive range of accessories (including choice of vehicle).

The deluxe model is additionally refined to be asymmetrical in all planes.

The underlying technology is superbly adapted from self parking vehicles. To operate one simply holds out one's hands, voices the appropriate command, and the steering wheel, with vehicle attached, adopts the appropriate position.

My own, standard, more or less round, steering wheel was perfectly square when adjusted by the wheel alignment mechanic. Unfortunately this static level positioning satisfied neither left nor right hand side of road driving conditions due to differing camber in multiple countries. Annoys the hell out of me. Perhaps that's why I like the middle of narrow dirt roads!

 

[pugslyyy]

this forum is turning into a colour scheme competition.

I hate to put a part back on with surface rust on it!

 

[pugslyyy]

I just received my Japanese JIKIU tie rod ends today (August 4), ordered from a company in Singapore on August 1. It amazes me how I can order parts from Singapore and have them delivered to the US for half the cost of buying it in the US. Also, main reason for ordering these is that they come with grease fittings.

 

[pugslyyy]

So I got my suspension bushings, tie rod ends, and shocks replaced and renewed the boots/lube on my drag link. Lubed the front drive line, found one jammed zerk and replaced it.

Putting things back together I noticed that the right hub spins a lot easier than the left. Kinda makes sense since I took the right one apart to replace a stud so it has been cleaned and repacked more recently - guess it is time to do the other side.

I also ordered a fish scale so I can set the torque on the bearings correctly - I've always just done it by feel but figure for $15 might as well get a tool. My scientific measure has always been "as tight as you can get it just grabbing the socket with your hands in a shop towel, torque until the towel slips.

I'm kind of curious to see how the hubs measure out, because they both have been running about the same temperature. (I'm a great believer in carrying a non-contact infrared thermometer in my tool box)

 

[pugslyyy]

So interesting situation - my non-OEM tie rod ends are about the same dimensionally, but the threads don't come quite as close to the balljoint as on the genuine Fuso. So I can't get the toe-in adjust in quite enough.

My solution is going to be to shorten the tie rod by 1/8" on each end or so and it should all work (for original and aftermarket).