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shortened INNER tie rods

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by GEZSFRK, Oct 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM.

  1. GEZSFRK
    Joined: Jul 19, 2013
    Posts: 91

    GEZSFRK

    does any know if someone makes shortened inner tie rods for the mustang 2 rack and pinion?
    thanks
     
  2. JohnLewis
    Joined: Feb 19, 2023
    Posts: 648

    JohnLewis
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    This will get moved to the off topic section. But how much more do you need them shorted? Might be cheaper just to get a pair and shorten them yourself.
     
  3. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 36,891

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Moved to the off topic forum. Pinto suspension is strictly off topic on the main board
     
  4. I have used a factory (and slightly longer) tie rod end from a different Ford product to lengthen a manual Mustang II rack that I used on a 2" widened, aftermarket Mustang II crossmember with great success. That being said, I have seen an Anglia (1948-ish) with a quite narrow Mustang II suspension and the method they used was to narrow the manual rack itself.

    Years ago I took a factory Ford Mustang II manual rack to a shop and had them shorten it by cutting off the threaded ends of the inner tie rods and rethreading but, once home and taking time to inspect the work I paid for, it became obvious that the rod itself was slightly larger in diameter where the factory threads were cut and the new threads, having been cut on the thinner part of the rod (again, it wasn't obvious that the rod was thinner where no threads were), were not cut deep enough or even consistently, rendering it completely unsafe.

    What I have learned from previous mistakes is this ... if you are running a narrowed Mustang II crossmember, the rack itself should really be narrowed, in order to maintain factory geometry, not by shortening the tie rods. That being said, my manual rack inner/outer tie rods were technically lengthened when I used slightly longer outer tie rods with the 2" wider crossmember so, a person can get away with a little "fudging" without completely destroying steering geometry, proven to me by how well my car behaved BUT, if you're interested in taking more than a smidgen off each inner tie rod, I'd seriously consider having the rack itself shortened.

    I don't know of any commercially available shorter inner tie rods but I have seen the threaded inner tie rod ends cut off and then having a threaded tube welded/pinned in place at which point spherical rods ends could be used in place of typical outer tie rod ends.
     
    Ned Ludd likes this.
  5. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,588

    gene-koning
    Member

    There are lots of other options then just the mustang 2 or pinto rack & pinions these days.
    Many foreign cars have a narrow track width that would be much better the trying to narrow up the MM2 rack.

    Another option may be the Chevy Cavalier or Dodge Intrepid (one is a front steer, the other is a rear steer), both have the inner tie rods connected at the center of the rack and have inner tie rod ends that can easily (and safely) be cut and welded.
    Dig a little deeper.
     
  6. MAD MIKE
    Joined: Aug 1, 2009
    Posts: 948

    MAD MIKE
    Member
    from 94577

    Flaming River is probably your only option.
    But if you need it shorter by a bit then it would probably be better to get a shorter(narrower) rack.
     

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