How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

I just replaced the rubber and caps for grease retention on the tie rod and drag link ends. What is the procedure or how much do you tighten the end plugs?

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

Compress springs about 25-30% of total length

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

how do you determine that?

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

i find once the hole lines up to the slot in the plug for the cotter pin to slide in easily is sufficient.. it comes out to about the same compression patrick mentioned

just redid a whole frt end this way & double checked when done and after putting miles on it..
no play was detected afterwards

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

Okay let me see if I have this right:
Screw the cap in just far enough so the cotter pin can go in so the cotter pin is deep in the slot of the cap.

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

yep

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

great thanks

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

I replaced mine also and when I took my 29 for a spin last weekend found that just till the cotter pin fits wasn't sufficient. Car had a tendency to wander and noted a slight play in the linkages. Tightened down (made sure not bottomed out) until approximately 2-1/2 threads were visible inside the threaded end of the tie rod & draglink and wander & play gone, no noticeable difference in steering effort. Could be replacement springs need a bit more tightening due their tension or length. Tim

Re: How tight is too tight drag link & tie rod ends
 

The procedure that works for me that I learned at the antique Ford restoration shop where I worked in the 1970's is to tighten the end plugs while trying to rotate the drag link/tie rod with your other hand. Ideally, you should be able to rock them with some resistance. If you can't, the plugs are too tight. If the rod rotates too easily, the plugs are too loose. When you can rotate the rod with said resistance, that's about right. Whether this equates to the infamous 25% compression or not, I don't know. I just know this method not only makes sense (not too tight, not too loose), it also WORKS!
Marshall