Technical 37 ford tie rod help

Hey everyone,
I'm new to straight axle front ends but I think I'm crazy. My front end is eating the outside of my tires especially p***enger side. I checked the toe using my plates and tape measures and had an inch of toe in. Checked it twice. Crazy.
Anyway, I tried adjusting the tie rod but the tie rod is maxed out and will not tighten up any more. Never have I had that happen. So I pulled the tie rod out and I believe I need to make or order a new tie rod. Will replace the tie rod ends as well.
Funny thing is, it looks like it was original. Maybe spindles are narrower?

 

usually the threads go deeper than the rod end, so you could cut a little off the tube to get you're adjustment. a more accurate way to measure toe is wrap the tire with masking tape, spin it, and touch with a marker pen while spinning to give you a true line to measure off.

 

It looks like your p***enger spindle steering arm may be bent.

 

If your axle is dropped then even an original tie Rod may be too long. See how much thread is left inside and cut it down.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

How well does it steer?

 

slow to steer, has a little vibration around 45 mph. It is a dropped axle. I can cut the tie rod down and if I run out of thread I should be able to tap it.

 

That's a great idea to check toe!

 

It looks like someone has heated and bent your stock steering arms. That was common back in the day. Now everybody sells bolt on dropped steering arms that are accurately bent. I would cut off those arms, and go to Ch***is Engineering and install new through bolt arms. Then you can determine the appropriate tie rod length. Oh, the thread on tie rods is 11/16-18. It's an oddball size. I think Speedway sells the tap.

 

Your aiming for 1/8 inch toe in. At 1 inch you should be able to see it if your standing in front.Dont forget to remove the drag link from the pitman arm. Once you have the toe in set center the steering wheel....then lift the drag link,and see how close it comes to dropping right in.It likely wont,and you will have to adjust it so it drops in with out the steering wheel leaving center.

 

that looks like flat steel plate caliper carrier
and blind bolt extra drop steering arms,
would be interesting IF that were the case, just how much purchase is in them
- if the leg on the back of the arm has been trimmed
stock arm would come out the middle

what gets me is they fail to enlarge the /\ whole point of that circular image

 

this looks like positive camber?

 

Just narrow the rod like you said. Maybe you’ll run out of threads and need to tap a little deeper, so I recommend cutting the right hand threaded end. Much easier to find that tap.

 

Think that may be my inferior camera skills.

 

-it looks like its been slid into a kerb and the axle rolled over?

 

I would think it would be tough to bend an axle, but then again maybe my wife owned the car in a previous life. I will look at that in the morning. Thanks everyone!

 

Look at the drop in the axle, your track width it likely much narrower than stock. Factory axles that have been dropped are also stretched to retain the king pin centerlines.