How to do tie rod flip

[mazdamama]

ive got a 79 f 150 Dana 44 front and and I'm trying to do the tierod flip. Does anyone know the best way to do this or how to find the right TREs to use or a good place to buy the inserts that just require a 3/4 drill bitand not an expensive reamer. Thanks

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Only way I've ever done them is with a reamer, and then you just put the linkage you have on top of the knuckles.

 

[mazdamama]

Yeah but did you have to buy inserts or one ton TREs or did u just team it and flip your stock TREs over?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Well, it was a buddys truck. It was a 79 f150 D44. Reamed them, and flipped the stock TRE's first. Bout a year later we swapped it all to GM 1ton TRE's. Just had to ream the knuckles more to get them to fit.

 

[yyc_tbird_sc]

I've got the 1T tie rod ends as well and will be doing the tie rod flip on my shortened '79 D44. Same thing, ream the holes from the top side until the tie rod ends fit.

 

[mazdamama]

Ok so do the one ton TREs fit right on a stock tie rod or do I have to get a custom tie rod or specific threaded TREs? Thanks

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

do rod end steering did it with my ranger an no play in the steering what so ever. they should last alot longer then tie rod ends. i just had to make a custom mount for the drag link so the johnny joints could drop out as much as the suspension. so on the one knuckle we machined a block of steel that had a 22 degree angle on it an the johnny joint there so it wouldnt bind up at full droop nor full stuff.

 

[legoms013]

Ok so do the one ton TREs fit right on a stock tie rod or do I have to get a custom tie rod or specific threaded TREs? Thanks

I doubt a stock tie rod will be big enough for the 1 ton TRE stuff. You'll have to order new tubing and weld in bungs or have the ends threaded for the Chevy stuff. Chevy threads are 7/8"-18 TPI.

 

[MAranger]

Be careful what "1 ton TRE's" you buy. Alot of places are selling 3/4 ton stuff labeling it one ton by virtue of the 7/8-18 threads.

True one ton chevy tre's have a .781" major diameter. The "1 ton" have .774" major diameter IIRC. Your 44 (I have the same one sitting in my garage) has the .774" major dia. So, if you went ahead and bought the flip kit sleeves sold with the "1 ton" (.774") stuff, you could reuse your stock tie rod.

It seems like a bad idea to me to just ream from the top, as you'd wind up with an hour glass shaped taper, resulting in half as much of an interference fit. From what i understand, the sleeves require the reamer. Because this is all such a head ache, and i don't have a stock tierod, I'm gonna make a dom tie rod, and use 3/4 heims, flip it in the process.

Dont want to end up like you and bend my tie rod the first rock I climb.