[Guest]

I took a gander under the car today and noticed my tie rod ends are bent inward. When the car's all the way up, I can see how they're all bent in. Is this some "feature" of having air bags or a fluke thing? I've got Hotchkis front swaybars if that matters at all.

 

[Guest]

Those are swaybar endlinks, not tie rod ends.

 

[Guest]

Whatever the hell they are, does anyone else's do this with air bags?

 

[Guest]

More than likely, your sway bar is binding on the frame before your control arms stop moving upward, causing the end links to get bent. You'll need to get a new set of shorter end links.

You might also want to check and make sure your tie-rod ends (the part of the steering linkage that connects the center-link to the steering knuckle (spindle) aren't hitting the frame when the car is aired out. If they are, they can also get bent.

 

[Guest]

Thanks man. Tom Frederico saw this thread a few mins ago and says he's got whatever it is I need. At least it's a cheapy fix.

 

[Guest]

You should really only need a shorter bolt to replace the bent one. Cut your sleeve shorter. Couple bucks on the bolts and your set.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Fleetwood SS:
Whatever the hell they are, does anyone else's do this with air bags?

Dude... I was just trying to make sure you got the help you needed. How do I know if you didn't post the wrong picture by mistake and really DID mean tie rod ends? It was just a feable attempt at clarification.


Good luck.

 

[Guest]

i just took my sway bar off, and it was bent all up like that too... and i am not bagged. I think it just has to do with not havign the proper sized end links in there to begin with. At ride height, you need the sway bar hole to be level to the ground. Then measure the distance between the sway bar and the control arm. THat is the size of the endlinks that you need.

 

[Guest]

Huh, I just noticed this thread. I have the same problem with my newly installed F-bar and Dal supplied endlinks.

So I need to get another set of new endlinks? What size?

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by tlynch:
So I need to get another set of new endlinks? What size?

Remove the bent endlinks you have, and with the car on the ground and the ends of the swaybar horizontal, measure the distance between the bar and the control arm. Then, go down to the local hardware store and purchase a bolt (Grade 8 will more than do) that is 3" (or so) longer than measured distance. You may need to get a new nut and some washers, too. You'll also need to cut down the length of the sleeve between the bushings, accordingly.

 

[Guest]

where can you get a longer sleve... and dont try the pills, they dont work