MK4 outer tie rod quandary

[Roscoe]

My previously-built MK4 built on an '88 Mustang GT Fox body was taken in for an alignment (following my suspension work) and one of the outer tie rods was stripped. The mechanic ordered and received a replacement Mustang part but it wasn't a match for the stripped one on the car. I reviewed the build manual and it mentions shortening the inner tie rod but appears to use the outer one as-is. So, I'm confused as to what he needs to be looking for.

The builder received the car with that work already done so he couldn't help me. The previous owner upgraded the front brakes...any reason that could require a changed tie rod?

Thoughts?

[Sharris2]

I used the moog ones; can't remember the part number but I had to shorten them abit

[rich grsc]

What kind of mechanic can't figure this out? There are long and short, early mustangs, fox body mustangs. Anything after 94 is most like metric.
You have the old one, take it to a parts store & compare :rolleyes:

[Roscoe]

What kind of mechanic can't figure this out? There are long and short, early mustangs, fox body mustangs. Anything after 94 is most like metric.
You have the old one, take it to a parts store & compare :rolleyes:

No local store had one...this one came from Denver (I live in Cheyenne) sight unseen...the box was labeled correctly but the part didn't look like the one on the car. I'm just wondering if somebody swapped in a different part (like the Moog one mentioned above).

[Roscoe]

I used the moog ones; can't remember the part number but I had to shorten them abit

Shorten them...how? Cut them down? Part number?

[Norm B]

If it were me, I would replace both the inner and outer tie rod ends. The outer being stripped means there is probably some damage to the inner threads.
Your mechanic should be able to determine if the rack is fox body or sn95 by the steering shaft. Fox body ones are splined and sn95 ones are pyramid shaped. Once you know the rack type then order the correct replacement parts. I would do both sides for peace of mind.
Just checked Rock Auto and a good complete set is about $100.
That’s pretty cheap life insurance.

Norm

PS you may have to cut a little off the inner tie rod ends on one side to properly align the toe in. Depends on how well the rack is centred.

[Roscoe]

I'm going to go by the shop on Monday morning and try to get some pictures of the rack and tie rods. Maybe folks here can confirm if the parts are original Fox body or something else.

I suspect getting a complete set of new tie rods is probably the right answer, assuming the rack and the spindle (probably not the right name...the part the outer tie rod connects to) are original.

[cv2065]

Moog ES2150RL and 9-13101G Energy Suspension dust boots are the upgrade numbers commonly used for the MKIV. Not sure if it will fit your application but maybe gives you something to compare to. The Moog is larger piece than what comes in the kit but you shouldn't have to cut anything down.

[Roscoe]

Update: Over the weekend I remembered that a previous owner upgraded the car to power steering (which required a new rack) so this morning I went back to the shop. First, I learned that I misunderstood what part of the outer tie rod was stripped. It wasn't the connection to the inner tie rod but rather where the outer TR connected to the steering knuckle...it was held on only by the cotter pin. And I learned that the replacement part was too long...they had a plan to cut it down. So with that cleared up, together we took a look and voila found a part number on the rack...it came from a Mustang II. Researching those tie rods confirmed the specs with the ones on the car, so they are going to order THAT outer tie rod. Hopefully this will be fixed today...

[Roscoe]

Update to the update. So the first outer tie rod (88 Mustang) was too long (the inner tie rod bottomed out before it was in the right position. The 94 Mustang II tie rod was too short. However the mechanic found that Speedway had the right one, and "extended" tie rod for the Mustang II rack. But it will take a week to come in. Third time's the charm they say...

[Norm B]

Just cut the required amount off the 88 inner tie rod like it suggests in the manual.
The method I used was to run the outer tie rod jam nut all the way onto the inner tie rod, cut the required amount off, file the end, then take the jam nut off to chase the threads.
Instal everything normally.

Norm

[StangRacer]

Update to the update. So the first outer tie rod (88 Mustang) was too long (the inner tie rod bottomed out before it was in the right position. The 94 Mustang II tie rod was too short. However the mechanic found that Speedway had the right one, and "extended" tie rod for the Mustang II rack. But it will take a week to come in. Third time's the charm they say...

Just for clarification... are you saying the car currently has a rack from a 1994 SN95 Mustang? The last model Mustang II was built in 1978...

[Jeff Kleiner]

Just for clarification... are you saying the car currently has a rack from a 1994 SN95 Mustang? The last model Mustang II was built in 1978...

Correct...something isn't making sense. The Mustang II rack has different mounting hole distances than a Fox Mustang rack. It would require enongating or enlarging the mounting holes in the FFR chassis to install a Mustang II rack. Fox Mustang and Mustang II racks have a splined connection to the steering shaft while the SN95 rack has a pyramid/wedge connection. Which does it have Roscoe? When using a power steering rack in the Mk4 the builder is instructed to install extenders between the steering rack shaft and inner tie rods and then cut down the outer ends of the inners. Do you know if this was done? If the extenders were installed but the inner rods weren't cut back the shorter outer tie rods (or cut down ones) may have been used to compensate.

Jeff

[Roscoe]

I said Mustang II because that's what the mechanic said. You're all probably right. The bottom line is that the configuration is non-standard so finding the right part is proving a challenge.

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

I might be able to shed some light as to why there is a bit of extra threads on the inner tie rods. I noticed when i bought a outer tie rod (not installed yet) that it was hollow and had room for quite a bit of extra threaded inner rod length than required for my 88 T-bird. (This is a Fox T-bird and if I remember correctly they had slightly wider track width. So i think the same part fit a Mustang/Capri AND a Thunderbird/Cougar. this would allow Ford to Not have extra part number for the thunder birds or mustangs when the dimensions were different.

[Roscoe]

Correct...something isn't making sense. The Mustang II rack has different mounting hole distances than a Fox Mustang rack. It would require enongating or enlarging the mounting holes in the FFR chassis to install a Mustang II rack. Fox Mustang and Mustang II racks have a splined connection to the steering shaft while the SN95 rack has a pyramid/wedge connection. Which does it have Roscoe? When using a power steering rack in the Mk4 the builder is instructed to install extenders between the steering rack shaft and inner tie rods and then cut down the outer ends of the inners. Do you know if this was done? If the extenders were installed but the inner rods weren't cut back the shorter outer tie rods (or cut down ones) may have been used to compensate.

Jeff

I can't answer your questions because I have no clue. All I know is the rack housing stamped part number (FF-EOBC-3550 AA)...When I googled that it came back with hits for both Mustang II and 89-93. The limited number of hits for the SN95 appeared to be in error. Bottom line, Google is not always your friend.

I have a question though...if shortening the inner tie rod is a common (and FFR-suggested) requirement to make the ford parts fit, I'm curious why the one on my car wasn't cut (unless the outer tie rod used was shorter than the normal part...).

[Norm B]

Could you post a picture of the steering rack where the steering shaft (the shaft that runs to the steering wheel) connects. A picture of the tie rod end that needs replacing would also be helpful.

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

I can't answer your questions because I have no clue. All I know is the rack housing stamped part number (FF-EOBC-3550 AA)...When I googled that it came back with hits for both Mustang II and 89-93. The limited number of hits for the SN95 appeared to be in error. Bottom line, Google is not always your friend.
......).

If you drop the FF and google the rest it comes back to a 1980 and up power steering rack and pinion. There were no mustang IIs after 1978.