The Ford Barn

LizardsA · 02-22-2014, 09:30 AM

Good afternoon folks,
I am trying to install a bronze impregnated easy steer kit on my A's tie rod ends.
My question arises from when I tighten up the nuts that go into the ends: how tight should this be, because when I tighten mine, I end up with the nut going almost an inch past the end of the tube, down into the tube. Have I assembled everything incorrectly?
Mike
Johannesburg, South Africa

Tim B. · 02-22-2014, 10:00 AM

If your ends are installed on the steering arm balls did you remember to put the springs in? Pretty straight forward installation for tie rod. Spring, Teflon cup, ball, Teflon cup, adjustment cap and cotter pin. Missing spring or ball would be about an inch. Tim

Brian T · 02-22-2014, 10:17 AM

The instructions should have came with the kit, if not go to Snyders and find the parts, they have the assembly diagram there, you obviously have something assembled incorrectly.

TDO · 02-22-2014, 12:34 PM

The spring is one inch long. Your nut should be about a 1/16 to 1/8 inch passed the end of the tube. That will give you the 25% compression on the spring.

LizardsA · 02-22-2014, 01:56 PM

Thanks to those who responded. I have checked the instructions on the Snyder's site. What I still don't have an answer to is how tight must this whole lot be?

J Franklin · 02-22-2014, 02:05 PM

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The spring should be compressed about 1/4 to half way.

Marshall V. Daut · 02-22-2014, 08:57 PM

45 years ago when I was working in an antique Ford restoration shop, the old time Ford mechanic who owned the business showed me many useful ways of repairing these cars. One tip regards the tightened of the drag link and tie rod end plugs. I don't recall the teflon plugs being available at the time, so we used the original steel ones. But the procedure and end result are the same.
The way this expert set the tightness was by feel - tighten the plugs and try to twist the drag link or tie rod on the ball as you do so. If it can be rotated too easily, the plugs are not tight enough. If you cannot rotate the rod, the plugs are too tight. You want to get the plugs tight enough so that the rod can be slightly rocked back and forth on the steering ball with some stiff resistance. Whether that's 25% spring compression or not, I don't know. I just know that this method worked for the 25 years his shop was open and on the dozens of front ends I've rebuilt since.
Be sure to recheck the toe-in setting once the tie rod end plugs have been set. They can change the toe-in setting in either direction, depending upon how much the end plugs had to be tightened against wore steering balls.
Marshall

Marshall V. Daut · 02-22-2014, 10:50 PM

Oops! I mistyped! I meant "35 years ago", not 45. Time is moving fast enough as it is without taking 10 more years off my life!
There are three kinds of people on this earth: those who can count, and those who can't.

Marshall

LizardsA · 02-23-2014, 12:01 PM

Good evening all,
Just a report-back: I managed to tighten the tie rod up just as suggested, and it all feels nice and smooth. I can't wait to get the old lady out on the road again, but I know that the steering is going to be real sweet.
Thatnks for the help and advice.
Kind regards
Mike

02-22-2014, 09:30 AM	#1
LizardsA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 225	Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit Good afternoon folks, I am trying to install a bronze impregnated easy steer kit on my A's tie rod ends. My question arises from when I tighten up the nuts that go into the ends: how tight should this be, because when I tighten mine, I end up with the nut going almost an inch past the end of the tube, down into the tube. Have I assembled everything incorrectly? Mike Johannesburg, South Africa

02-22-2014, 10:00 AM	#2
Tim B. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 162	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit If your ends are installed on the steering arm balls did you remember to put the springs in? Pretty straight forward installation for tie rod. Spring, Teflon cup, ball, Teflon cup, adjustment cap and cotter pin. Missing spring or ball would be about an inch. Tim

02-22-2014, 10:17 AM	#3
Brian T Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 1,377	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit The instructions should have came with the kit, if not go to Snyders and find the parts, they have the assembly diagram there, you obviously have something assembled incorrectly. __________________ Nothing can be made foolproof, ---- fools are ingenious bastards.

02-22-2014, 12:34 PM	#4
TDO Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Enterprise, WV. Posts: 460	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit The spring is one inch long. Your nut should be about a 1/16 to 1/8 inch passed the end of the tube. That will give you the 25% compression on the spring.

02-22-2014, 01:56 PM	#5
LizardsA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 225	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit Thanks to those who responded. I have checked the instructions on the Snyder's site. What I still don't have an answer to is how tight must this whole lot be?

02-22-2014, 02:05 PM	#6
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,370	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The spring should be compressed about 1/4 to half way.

02-22-2014, 08:57 PM	#7
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,627	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit 45 years ago when I was working in an antique Ford restoration shop, the old time Ford mechanic who owned the business showed me many useful ways of repairing these cars. One tip regards the tightened of the drag link and tie rod end plugs. I don't recall the teflon plugs being available at the time, so we used the original steel ones. But the procedure and end result are the same. The way this expert set the tightness was by feel - tighten the plugs and try to twist the drag link or tie rod on the ball as you do so. If it can be rotated too easily, the plugs are not tight enough. If you cannot rotate the rod, the plugs are too tight. You want to get the plugs tight enough so that the rod can be slightly rocked back and forth on the steering ball with some stiff resistance. Whether that's 25% spring compression or not, I don't know. I just know that this method worked for the 25 years his shop was open and on the dozens of front ends I've rebuilt since. Be sure to recheck the toe-in setting once the tie rod end plugs have been set. They can change the toe-in setting in either direction, depending upon how much the end plugs had to be tightened against wore steering balls. Marshall

02-22-2014, 10:50 PM	#8
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,627	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit Oops! I mistyped! I meant "35 years ago", not 45. Time is moving fast enough as it is without taking 10 more years off my life! There are three kinds of people on this earth: those who can count, and those who can't. Marshall

02-23-2014, 12:01 PM	#9
LizardsA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 225	Re: Question about Bronze Impregnated Teflon Easy Steer Kit Good evening all, Just a report-back: I managed to tighten the tie rod up just as suggested, and it all feels nice and smooth. I can't wait to get the old lady out on the road again, but I know that the steering is going to be real sweet. Thatnks for the help and advice. Kind regards Mike