Front driveline - pics - take a look

[mankypro]

So I'm tooling around under the truck today doing an oil change and I notice that the driver's side tie rod looks bent?

I've always thought that the turning radius on the truck was a bit wide.

Take a look and tell me if you think the tie rods are bent?

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[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Yea that doesnt look right to me, but lets see what others say.

 

[mankypro]

If they are horked at least the replacements are cheap:

http://www.lmctruck.com/ICATALOG/FD/full.aspx?Page=121

 

[mankypro]

Ok this is killing me someone that knows answer! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[zpd307]

you got to love colorado trucks, i wish mine was half as rusty as that. are you only concerned about the inner left joint, or do you think the left inner bar is bent in the middle. i cant help you either way, as i have a 350 and the steering setup is different for the d60. i just put in a new drag link too, god that tightened up the steering a whole bunch!

 

[mankypro]

The driver's side tie rod and the drag link both look bent to me. I did some crazy stuff on my property up north last month offroad with the truck, wonder if I hit something or landed on it.

 

[towcat]

the driver's side tie rod assy is definitely cheezed. the passenger side doesn't look that good either but not as dire as the driver's side.

 

[mankypro]

Is the R&R on these hard?

the driver's side tie rod assy is definitely cheezed. the passenger side doesn't look that good either but not as dire as the driver's side.

 

[suv7734]

Yup, that looks bent to me especially given how close it is to the grease nipple where the right side connects to the pitman arm. Here's a link to a pic of one listed for that truck. How's your tire wear, is it wearing more on the outside of the front tires? Is the steering wheel centered when driving in a straight line?

 

[zpd307]

replacement isnt hard. i bought myself one of those tuning fork seperator things. im not sure if it is called a ball joint/ tie rod seperator. anyway, a couple of wacks on that with a bfh and they will split. the only bad part of that tool is that it will destroy the rubber boots.

 

[mankypro]

then to find someone with an alignment rack...

 

[mankypro]

any idea where to order the rubber boots from? Found replacements from MOOG at Rock Auto for not much $$ - I heard MOOG and TRW where the only way to go from a retired county diesel mech, he said the Carquest labeled stuff is OK too.

MOOG Part # DS1002 More Info
Front Steering; Inner; Left Hand; 4WD $57.79

MOOG Part # DS1001 More Info
Front Steering; Inner; Right Hand; 4WD; Connecting Tie Rod $66.79

 

[suv7734]

If you're replacing the tie rod ends the new ones will come with boots. Those sound like good prices for MOOG parts!

 

[zpd307]

with the tool i was telling you about, you only have to worry about new boots if you were going to put the back on. per say you needed to take of the outer tie rod to do some spindle work and then needed to put the same tie rod back on. if you are hammering away to replace the stuff, then no worries.

 

[sle2115]

If you should happen to need boots, Moog has them in the back of their catalog. You may have to argue with someone that they have them, but they do (or did...been a few years since I pushed parts).