555 Tie Rod End Quality? (lacking)

[OGBeno]

I have done Dusy, Rubicon, Tellico (when it was open), every East Coast tough trail, all of Southern Utah, Nevada, etc.

I have yet to break/bend/damage a TRE.


Now the rod, that's a different story.

 

[jcardona1]

Those are the s***! Do you have to ream the pitman arm?

Nope, these are a direct replacement.

 

[jcardona1]

I haven't broken a tierod but I did bend my Hellfire high steer arm in half. Where there's a will there's a way

 

[Tools R Us]

Just a question, but how many of you guys have actually broken an 80 series tie rod end? How many have been broken in the countless hours of people wheeling hard on an 80 series? How many people who wheel their 80's actually treat the TRE as a yearly maintenance item rather than replacing them when they're all jacked up?
The factory ones have suited me well and I've yet to have a single failure.

Agree, lots of wheeling, never seen one break. Have replaced some, high mileage rigs, wear/play. Some of the replacements came from Cruiser Outfitters, zero issues.

 

[Tapage]

replace mines to feel good with myself keep the old ones as spare they were as tight as the new ones .. ( 10 years old )

 

[Tools R Us]

How about Joint Fuji? Got mine from Spector but install was less than 1k miles ago. anyone know about these? You can see they have been heat treated by the discoloration.

Have heard that Joint Fuji is the OE supplier?

 

[OGBeno]

Have heard that Joint Fuji is the OE supplier?

There is no one that knows who the OEM supplier is. Neither Fuji Joint or 555 have any information on their website (English or Japanese) regarding who they supply.

I have seen no conclusive evidence that either are OEM factory supplier.

Nor have I seen any evidence in the contrary.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

There is no one that knows who the OEM supplier is. Neither Fuji Joint or 555 have any information on their website (English or Japanese) regarding who they supply.

I have seen no conclusive evidence that either are OEM factory supplier.

Nor have I seen any evidence in the contrary.

x2, both claim to be OE suppliers to Toyota and I've absolutely found that to be the case (ball-joints, rag joints, sway links, etc) BUT in the tie rod realm, no conclusive evidence. See, the 555 or JF markings would make it easy when we look at OE joints BUT, Toyota is well known for having those removed on their parts or making aftermarket manufactures remove the TEQ from the parts they sell direct. We get parts direct from AISIN, some of a "grind" spot in the exact spot the TEQ logo would be on a part in a Toyota box

 

[baldilocks]

Have heard that Joint Fuji is the OE supplier?

No, I have not heard this. I'm on the fence with these non-greasable units though. I could not find rod ends for an 80 that came with a zerk fitting.

 

[OGBeno]

No, I have not heard this. I'm on the fence with these non-greasable units though. I could not find rod ends for an 80 that came with a zerk fitting.

Because none do.

Greaseable zirks ended with 80 series production in the US market (and Toyota went to kit ends for all previous iterations), and when the 7x switched to the same 80 series front end in roughly 1999.

All OEM 80 TRE's will not have zirks..

 

[Tools R Us]

x2, both claim to be OE suppliers to Toyota and I've absolutely found that to be the case (ball-joints, rag joints, sway links, etc) BUT in the tie rod realm, no conclusive evidence. See, the 555 or JF markings would make it easy when we look at OE joints BUT, Toyota is well known for having those removed on their parts or making aftermarket manufactures remove the TEQ from the parts they sell direct. We get parts direct from AISIN, some of a "grind" spot in the exact spot the TEQ logo would be on a part in a Toyota box

Agree, it likely isn't exclusive, they could both be Toyota OE suppliers? Toyota makes lots of model groups, one may supply for some models, the other for the rest? Take shocks, have seen, Tokico, KYB, Bilstein, etc, under stock/new units.

 

[iptman]

I just ordered a set of ends from CO to use on my new Budbuilt tie rod and drag link. I have no reason to believe my OE ends are bad but will verify when I pull the links. If they aren't bad should I go ahead and reuse the OE ends and put the new 555 ends on the shelf?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Agree, it likely isn't exclusive, they could both be Toyota OE suppliers? Toyota makes lots of model groups, one may supply for some models, the other for the rest? Take shocks, have seen, Tokico, KYB, Bilstein, etc, under stock/new units.

I know for a fact 555 and JF make OE Toyota parts, just can't every know which. You're absolutely right about dual sources, think Timken and Koyo, and NSK for that matter too. Might have purchased in batches, maybe year by year, maybe for production models.

 

[Pin_Head]

Google "Toyota keiretsu" for a better understanding of the issue.

Toyota is a global manufacturer with affiliated companies making their parts all over the world, including the US, China and Taiwan. How many manufacturers do you think that there are that actually make parts for a 20 year old truck? Not many and probably only one that can compete successfully, although the actual company location may have changed over the years. Who is going to set up a production line for a part for a 20 year old truck when someone that has been making them for 20 years can make them for less? That is why many parts come in boxes with different names that all have the same markings and the Teq mark ground off.

 

[etarasoff]

For 99% of people that TRE is going to be overkill as well as being a horrible DD interaction with an overall stock or even slightly modified suspension set-up.

That set up is for folks like you.... And you are few.

Looking to buy some new TREs and am considering the EMF units. Can you or @jcardona1 elaborate on what you meant by "a horrible DD interaction with an overall stock or even slightly modified suspension" as I fit squarely into that category? If I ran these instead of OEM TREs, what would be the disadvantage besides the higher cost?

Thanks!

 

[scottryana]

They would likely make more noise than a stock TRE, and require more maintenance hence the grease zerk. Very similar to using a heim vs using an OEM rubber bushing.

Looking to buy some new TREs and am considering the EMF units. Can you or @jcardona1 elaborate on what you meant by "a horrible DD interaction with an overall stock or even slightly modified suspension" as I fit squarely into that category? If I ran these instead of OEM TREs, what would be the disadvantage besides the higher cost?

Thanks!

 

[etarasoff]

They would likely make more noise than a stock TRE, and require more maintenance hence the grease zerk. Very similar to using a heim vs using an OEM rubber bushing.

Thanks for the reply. Not afraid of maintenance but noise would drive me nuts. My TREs are at least 10 years old (if not original) and are still good.....so OEM it is for me.

 

[jcardona1]

Thanks for the reply. Not afraid of maintenance but noise would drive me nuts. My TREs are at least 10 years old (if not original) and are still good.....so OEM it is for me.

For what it's worth, I don't hear any noise from my EMF TRE. But mine is a slightly different setup using a non-tapered TRE with a 3/4" straight pin. I'm using it to connect the draglink to the tierod.

 

[mikedamageinc]

Do the 555's need less grease?? I just got a set from RockAuto and the boots are flat and empty looking and there are no grease fittings or a place to put one.

 

[retrofive]

Do the 555's need less grease?? I just got a set from RockAuto and the boots are flat and empty looking and there are no grease fittings or a place to put one.

There was mention in another thread I believe that yes, they come lubed with what is needed and that is all, no need for a full packed joint.