Coating Inside of Tie Rod and Drag Link?

[4Cruisers]

I'll be painting the tie rod and drag link for my '86 FJ60 project vehicle this afternoon, and will be installing all of the components tomorrow, including new tie rod ends and drag link ends. Is there anything I should coat the inside of the tie rod and drag link tubes with to help prevent corrosion? The insides of the tubes are very clean with just a little surface rust, the vehicle is from southern Nevada and only has ~125,000 miles. I swabbed out the insides with LocTite rust dissolver, then rinsed and followed with LocTite rust neutralizer. I was thinking of painting the insides with some Krylon Rust Protector Enamel I have laying around. What other options are there?

Also, should I use some anti-sieze on the tie rod end and drag link end threads? Or ???

 

[89BIGBLUE]

I used a touch of anti seize on the TREs.
Linseed oil or neetsfoot oil on the insides to prevent rusting maybe? I heard about this from an old timer this week at work.

 

[too tall]

I once stuffed my tie rod full of weed wrapped in a plastic bag and completely taped it up with electrical tape, I dipped it in gear oil, slid it inside the tie rod and reassembled. Then I loaded it into the back of my tandem axle box truck and drove to moab to go wheeling and smoke some pot. I believe the tie rod is still rust free on the inside. I agree with never seize on the threads.

 

[jestlurnin]

@too tall....that may be the best MUD response I have ever read.

 

[lcwizard]

...tie rod sure beats the rectum solution...
maybe you should change your screen name from Too Tall to Too Stoned

 

[60Works]

Absolutely use some sort of persistent corrosion protection inside. I wouldn't choose paint because of the risk of clogging the threads.

I always use lots of anti-seize on the threads and as far down the tube as the brush will reach but I live in a brutal salty environment. With new OEM hardware at each end change, I've never had the tube loosen out of adjustment.

 

[4Cruisers]

The tubes are painted on the outside and hanging in the garage for a few days so the paint can cure. I did some more research and decided to try coating the inside of the tubes with boiled linseed oil. I'll head over to the local hardware store tomorrow to pick some up.

 

[stevebradford]

I filled mine with grease. Next time I might put a grease zerk in there. While I’m greasing the front end just give it a pump too.