94 X tie rods

[jake122288]

I bought new outer tie rods for my 1994 explorer and when i went to change them, the threaded sections are different sizes. The new one is larger than the old... Did they start making them larger for strength issues because the place that I bought them from told me that they were the correct ones. Is there a way to make them work with the clamp style adjusters? (the piece btwn the inner and outer tie rods). Can the adjuster spread to cover the disks and still work properly?
Thanks in advance

 

[Tbars4]

...Generally, the 4x2 tie rod ends are smaller on the first gens while the 4x4 tie rod ends are larger...

...Perhaps someone previously swapped the whole setup and went with the 4x2 parts...The whole setup including drag link for the 4x4 runs just under $100...A lot of people don't opt to swap the drag link but you will be surprised out how important it is to get some of the slop out of your steering...

 

[Anime]

The tie rods for the 4WD have larger threads than the 2WD, so with a 4WD even the largest threaded ends should fit. They might still be the wrong tie rods though, maybe they are for an f-150 or larger truck but in the box for an Explorer...or someone switched their parts into the boxes and returned them. Try another parts store and compare them, or just take 'em back and tell them they are the wrong size and try to reorder, or get another brand.

There are a few stores (including NAPA) that have wonky application charts, and will give you 2WD or Dana 28 front end stuff unless you remind them it's a Dana 35 TTB front end, 4WD, etc. etc. Even then not all parts fit. Some companies have their parts setup assuming stuff fits between the 2WD/4WD and Ranger Dana 28 / Explorer Dana 35 even though in reality, it doesn't. This usually isn't the case with good brands, but seems to be the case from time to time. Just part of owning a 4WD 1st gen.

 

[jake122288]

sorry i forgot to mention my X was a 4x4.... unfortunately its been way past the date to return them (trans swap became a priority and tie rod ends when the truck doesnt move just doesnt come first in my book lol) i guess i'll get on the hunt for exactly what they are for and try to sell on the local Craigslist. i just didnt know if they started making changes to the parts for extra strength or anything (thus the larger size on the new tie rod ends)

 

[Anime]

We could tell yours was a 4x4 from your vehicle info over there on the left
<------

Even if it's past the date to return them, you can still take one into a parts store and compare it to what they have for a '94 4x4. If all the replacements are the same size as what you have, then it might be the steering system that's smaller from a 2WD like Tbars4 mentioned. If the other tie rods are smaller than the ones you have, and look like the right size for the ones on your Explorer, you know the ones you have are for something else.

I happen to have the original tie rods on mine, along with two brand new Motorcraft units, so I'll measure the rod diameter and post back. I was surprised at how huge the new units were when I received them, but just figured they looked bigger off the vehicle. If Ford did indeed make the replacement units larger (or just started using the ones off a F-150), perhaps they offered larger sleeves as well.

 

[Anime]

Ok well...my eyes weren't playing tricks on me either...

The OEM replacement tie rods (genuine Motorcraft from a Ford dealer) I have are, in fact, 1/16th of an inch larger (outer diameter of threads) than the original stock units.

My guess is these were strengthened, and hopefully purchasing all new replacement parts (all 2 steering rods and 2 sleeves plus the tie rod ends) yields a complete system with larger size parts. This is what I plan on doing.

If not...well someone messed up at Ford and the replacement parts are from something else that is supposed to fit an Explorer but doesn't.

I would say try the 2WD tie rod ends, they might be the correct size for the original 4WD sleeves. However, they might be the same (the left sleeve for a 2WD is the right sleeve for a 4WD)

Or try ordering new 4WD adjusting sleeves. If they fit the larger threaded tie rods, you can assume new steering rods would have the larger threads as well. Keeping everything to the same brand would likely work best.

 

[Dignan]

Is this a good tool for separating tie rods?

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-16-inch-pneumatic-ball-joint-separator-66315.html

or do I just need a hammer?