Anyone make tie rod ends??

I'm considering makin my own tie rod ends for my B2600i. . . I think it'd cost less than buyin 4 new stock ones. And a better option considering the amount of lift I'm gettin. . And right now, the wheels are EXTREMELY toed out cuz of the toyota spindles so I'm worried that they can't back off enough to get the wheels in line. . .

Have any of you guys made your own out of rod ends and high misalignment spacers?? I'm thinkin of usin a right hand thread and a left hand thread as the inners and outers on each side of the truck so you can adjust em without takin the rod end off. . . But I'm tryin to figure out how I should attatch the 2. . . Should I use somethin like DOM with threaded bungs and jam nuts?? Would that loosen with turning the truck??? And you know how the stock inner tie rod is offset, should I jus bend the DOM to compensate for that?? So the DOM wouls be a slight "s" shape. . . Thanks for any help guys. I haven't seen any home made tie rod ends on here but figured somebody may know somethin bout em. . .

-Josh

You will want to do a left and right for sure. I will tell you this though... buying new inner and outer stock tie rod ends will be 100 times cheaper than making your own. You don't want to use DOM for tie rods either. I would only use 4130 chromoly. You would want to run a 5/8" heim. You will have to drill out the spindles (obviously). I think you would be fine running a jamb nut, but you could also run a pinch bolt instead. I haven't done it on a Mazda, but I have done it will a couple other vehicles, so I don't know what is needed to clear the drag link bolt from the pitman arm and idler arm. However, if you can keep from bending the tube, that would be best. I would say that you can buy new inner and outer tie rods for $40



That will only buy one or two of the heims, not to mention the bolts, jamb nuts, spacers, tube, and the 2 or 3 other heims...

Please dont buy junk heims, you will feel the quality in your hands through the steering wheel if you go cheapy on the heims.

chromoly is expensive. a regular mild steel would be anyone's first choice, but there's a lot of force on your steering components when cornering. i'd not like to take the chance on using something thats not hardened. also if your going to use heim joints make sure they get the right amount of travel for what you need... heims usually only get like 30 degrees of articulation, and more with misalignment spacers. the tie rods i've got on my truck get like 30 degrees ONE WAY.

Its about 75 for new tie rods. . . I'm jus lookin at this option cuz of how much the wheels are toe'd out. . . I really don't think they can be adjusted that far in. . . I'll see i guess. I'm jus tryin to figure this out. . .

You can get chromoly rod ends from ballistic fab for 6 bucks a piece. . . and high misalignment spacers are like 5 a piece. Then a jus gotta figure out the adjusters. . .

Mild steel would be terrible for tie rods. They would bend first time you hit a bump LOL.

Did you follow the link I attached to my first response? $40 + free shipping for inner and outer tie rod ends. Did you also hear the part about not buying cheapy heims? Yes you can get heims for $6.00 a piece, they would be fine for mock up or somthing not suspension related. Do what you want to, but I would never put a $6.00 heim on my steering. You are relying on it to stay strong, not get sloppy, and last more than 2 weeks before it needs to be replaced (it will wear out fast).

Well I was gonna buy em from Ballistic Fab. . . And they are made by Midwest Control Products. . . Which is the same company that AvvTekk recommended on SSM. . . I ordered a couple of their rod ends to triangulate my lower arms with. . . So they should be here soon, so I'll see about their quality. They are chromoly

what if you took your outer tie rod off and cut say half an inch off the end of the inner tie rod shaft and threaded the outer back on? i don't remember what the stock steering stuff looked like (i switched to R&P) but just throwing out ideas
oh and not being an ass hole

That may work. . . I'll have to mess with em. Stock shit would def be easier in the long run. . And thanks for the input. You are one of the guys I figured would know somethin bout this so thanks

-Josh

Check out speedwaymotors.com for heims. They have several different grades for many applications. theres also a link somewhere to a place that makes small johnny joints that could be used for that.

speedway also sells a heim adapter that eliminates the tapered hole on spindles with a stud that gives that extra angle so your tie rods arent at a severe angle when dropped. Then your toe doesnt change as much either. I made my own tie rods this way. However I was Right Hand Drive and running a Tacoma steering rack.

I've made them before to adapt odd spindles to different steering setups. Like Mike said speedway sells the tapered tierod adapters so you don't have drill out the spindle. DOM tubing is fine. If you use .625 heims you can get 1.000"x.250" tubing and just run the tap drill though it and then tap it.