Tie Rod Adjuster Plug

[Sflip09]

I purchased a tie rod kit from Cruiser Corps for my 85 Land Cruiser and had my local mechanic install them. The mechanic said the tie rods were bad and there was excessive play in them. When I drove it home, the steering was way worse with the new tie rods over the old blown out tie rods. This tie rod kit has an adjuster plug that gets secured with a cotter pin. Has anybody installed this kit and will tightening or loosening the adjuster plug fix my issue? I tried uploading a video with no luck. I’ll read up on posting video’s and add it.

 

[IslandJ]

I installed that tie-rod kit on my 85'. Quality parts. Im not a 100% sure but I think i recall you tighten that adjusting plug then back it off a 1/2 turn or till the cotter pin fits in there. Im sure theres a right up on it somewhere on mud.

 

[Sflip09]

Thanks for the reply. There’s no instruction on what to do with those end plugs. I did tighten both of them and that seemed to fix the issue but now my steering wheel is way off and I just got it aligned.

 

[OSS]

Getting the steering wheel straight isn't a big deal.

 

[SteveH]

You need to have someone gently cycle the steering wheel back and forth while you watch (and then grasp and feel) every TRE and steering joint. There should be no play in any joint, save for perhaps the tiniest bit in the adjustable drag link end. Jasonredwood was right in saying that you tighten it, then back it off until the cotter pin slips in. I don't back it off the full half-turn recommended by Mr. T - I leave it tighter, and grease it frequently.

If the wheels are properly aligned, then it's a matter of adjusting the drag link until the steering wheel is straight. If anyone has really jacked up the steering over the years, you should be sure that the steering input shaft is centered in the steering box (in the 'middle', from a left-turn, right-turn perspective' as well.