Best option for new Tie Rod Ends (1 Viewer)

[bigbluetoy]

Hey Guys,

I need to replace all 4 of my TRE's. What do you recommend as the best option? 1991 FJ80 that currently has about a 4 inch lift (if that matters)

1. OEM $160-200

2. MAF $139
Tie Rod End Kits

3. Cruiser Outfitters $89
Cruiser Outfitters

4. other?

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NLXTACY]

Doesn't Slee have some too?

 

[lt1fire]

Hey Guys,

I need to replace all 4 of my TRE's. What do you recommend as the best option? 1991 FJ80 that currently has about a 4 inch lift (if that matters)

1. OEM $160-200

2. MAF $139
Tie Rod End Kits

3. Cruiser Outfitters $89
Cruiser Outfitters

4. other?

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Your going to get a lot of different answers here but I believe that bud built and marlin also has some options.

 

[bigbluetoy]

slee only sells the OEM ends now.

it looks like marlin only sells the tie rod ends, not the relay bar ends.

 

[Elijah]

I bought the ends from Cruiser Outfitters. Holding up well to the 37" tires that they're muscling around. Japanese made as well.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

All-Pro OffRoad is where I get mine! Circle 555 (same as OEM) and they are $21-ish each IIRC.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

slee only sells the OEM ends now.

it looks like marlin only sells the tie rod ends, not the relay bar ends.

They are the same...

 

[C6H12O6]

Depending on how rusty things are, you may want to buy new rods as well. They aren't really that much more expensive (ok, they are, but that's not the point) and it can really be a pain to separate the old ends from a rusty old rod. Nice, fresh ends threading onto a rusty old tie rod just seems silly to me, especially if you have to manhandle the rod to get the ends off. If you can get the old ones off in one piece without totally mangling the ends, they make nice trail spares should you need that sort of thing.

 

[GCRad1]

How do you know - when to change?

Sorry to jump the thread, but how does one go about knowing when to change the Tie-Rod-Ends?

 

[bigbluetoy]

my rubber bushings are all cracked and clearly have play in them.

 

[Miescha]

x2 on the relay and drag link (both rods). You also have many options there. I went with Slee's and really like the milled flat ends for later adjustment when everything is rusty. Slee doesn't sell the ends - he sent me to CDan for OEM.

How did I know it was time? There was some play in the front and I could see two of the seals were torn. (O.K. I didn't see anything until STLCruiser pointed it out, but I'm sure I would have seen it eventually - when someone else pointed it out )

Replace the rods - really. If nothing else, they sure are purty.

 

[GCRad1]

Any chance anyone has photos of when to change - visually point it out?

 

[concretejungle]

for what it's worth, i orderd the ends from MAF about a year ago. The boots are already cracked and letting the joint get exposed.

I will be replacing all the ends really soon with OEM. Just FYI

 

[Dusty]

be carefull with the marlin tre's. i have a new one to use on my pitman arm. note that the marlin 80 series tre is threaded like a standard gm 1 ton tre. if you try and screw it in your oe draglink you will fing it too big.

i found out the hard way. I had to buy new tube adaptors for this reason

 

[mainemike]

Sorry to jump the thread, but how does one go about knowing when to change the Tie-Rod-Ends?

Usually you will replace them when you need an alignment and find out they are seized in place. If the bushings are dry and cracked you should do it because you will have play in the system as the bushings fall apart. If the bushing look fine, and the truck drives straight, I wouldn't bother with them.

 

[dmc]

3. Cruiser Outfitters $89
Cruiser Outfitters

4. other?

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

that is where i got mine. very happy with them and the service. there are quite a few 80s running around this neck of the woods with TRE's from Kurt with no issues. They are the same Circle 555s mentioned above.
dmc