Tie rod end won’t thread in (1 Viewer)

[Sonoran Overland]

I purchased a 555 tie rod end kit from @cruiseroutfitters for my ‘96 LX450 part #TRE69095. I’m trying to install my first one and it will NOT thread in. I’ve tried left and right, put a little pressure with lock cramp - nothing is working. My old one will thread back in no problem.

Any ideas besides ordering an OE set?

 

[Sonoran Overland]

I tried the one labeled L and it screwed right in.
It’s the one on the left in the picture.
Is there supposed to be a difference in the threaded ends? Cause the one one the right was in a labeled R bag but it will not thread in, I thought both tie rods would be the same on the drag link? Or did I get a dud?

 

[LandLocked93]

Last pic...left is tie rod, right is drag link, IIRC. Or vice verse. Been a while since I did mine.
But you did good getting the whole kit at once. I did it worse. lol
Ended up calling @cruiseroutfit and they straightened me out. The issue was my terminology. They sent exactly what I asked for...

 

[Sonoran Overland]

This is the kit and my old link I took off the right side behind the RF tire. Maybe someone installed it backwards. I guess I’ll keep going and see if the R one fits the left side of my link.

 

[Sonoran Overland]

I am working with the Tie Rod Assembly

Edit: So I’m guessing when the tie rod ends were replaced prior the rod was installed “backwards” with opposite threads on the L side versus the R side according to the kit.
So now everything is installing as it should

 

[OffRoadScott]

When I bought my marlink kit (HD upgraded steering links) the threads on the ball joints were different sizes based off location and were threaded backwards to prevent it from coming unscrewed / jam nut installed as well.

So you might be trying to thread a right and into a left hand threaded hole, if that makes sense.

 

[Sonoran Overland]

When I bought my marlink kit (HD upgraded steering links) the threads on the ball joints were different sizes based off location and were threaded backwards to prevent it from coming unscrewed / jam nut installed as well.

So you might be trying to thread a right and into a left hand threaded hole, if that makes sense.

Yeah that’s what was happening.
So the R and L on the bag isn’t Right and Left side of vehicle I’m guessing it’s Right hand thread and Left hand thread.

 

[ajax1]

Paint the rod ends or they will corrode

 

[Comet]

For my 100 series, the orange bag was driver and the blue bag was passenger. Not sure if there is any correlation from the 100 to the 80 series for the 555 brand or not.

 

[Perfected]

I just did all 4 tie rods (from 555) a couple days ago and installed them along with the Marlin Crawler steering upgrade kit for the 80 series.

I had to paint everything myself (powder coated the actual rods and spray painted the tie rod ends).

The threads were larger on 2 of the tie rods. I believe 2 of them are 23mm the other 2 are 21mm?

2 go in counter clockwise, and the other 2 go in clockwise. A little bit of confusion initially but if you just label everything properly and use process of elimination you can get all 4 back in correctly.

And as ajax said, the tie rod ends themselves needed to be painted as well.

Edit: You got yours from Cruiser Outfitters though, I got everything from Marlin Crawler in one big kit.

I've had bad experiences in the past via Cruiser Outfitters with them sending me the wrong parts. Something else to keep in mind.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Each rod has a left hand and a right hand threaded end.
If both ends were threaded the same, rotating the rod to adjust the length would do nothing.

I've had trouble threading new rod ends in to old rod because the threads are gunned up and corroded.

A solution is to use a 2mm zip cut disc in a grinder and carefully cut a groove into the the old tie rod end to make a thread cleaning tap.
Cut the groove along the length of the rod.
Use some penetrative oil as lube, and wind the old rod ends in, and out a couple of times to clear the old threads, and spray clean with degreaser or brake clean
Lube well with zinc or copper never sieze paste.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I've had bad experiences in the past via Cruiser Outfitters with them sending me the wrong parts. Something else to keep in mind.

lol

 

[FMC80]

I've had bad experiences in the past via Cruiser Outfitters with them sending me the wrong parts. Something else to keep in mind.

lol

There’s always one, amiright?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Yeah that’s what was happening.
So the R and L on the bag isn’t Right and Left side of vehicle I’m guessing it’s Right hand thread and Left hand thread.

Were you able to get everything sorted out and installed?

 

[Sonoran Overland]

Were you able to get everything sorted out and installed?

Yeah I did …… I just thought the R and L on the bags were Left and Right side of vehicle when ACTUALLY it was Right hand thread and Left hand thread. My bad

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Yeah I did …… I just thought the R and L on the bags were Left and Right side of vehicle when ACTUALLY it was Right hand thread and Left hand thread. My bad

Fantastic, glad to hear

We are working to add instructions to all of the kits we sell, even those from other manufactures such as the 555 TRE kits. If nothing else a diagram and some torque specs.

 

[Marco Lau]

My second sets of 555s and i never ran into any problems during install. just remember to paint them prior or they will rust.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

I've had trouble trading new rod ends in to old rod because the threads are gunned up and corroded.

A solution is to use a 2mm zip cut disc in a grinder and carefully cut a groove into the the old tie rod end to make a thread cleaning tap.
Cut the groove along the length of the rod.
Use some penetrative oil as lube, and wind the old rod ends in, and out a couple of times to clear the old threads, ....

That's great tip mate! Thank you.

 

[GeoEng]

Make sure you don't loose the jam nuts for your rod ends. I'm looking for the drag link jam nut for the 555 drag link end for the right side (right hand thread). PO never installed it, and I only have the jam nut on the left side (left hand thread), it's a little sloppy. As far as I can tell they are M21-1.5 thread. Any ideas where I could find one?
Slee sells the whole rod with the nuts for $195. SLEE - Steering Drag Link - '91-97 Land Cruiser / LX 450 - Slee Off Road - https://sleeoffroad.com/products/sof1321/ I only need the right side nut.

 

[mudgudgeon]

OEM rod ends don't use jam nuts.