Spherical Tie Rod Ends (from other cars to ours, what fits?)

mike325ci

New member
I did some research into aftermarket tie rod ends (either to correct bump steer and/or to replace stock one with spherical ones)...

There is actually nothing in the market that is made specifically for our cars.
So the options we are looking at are:
1) Make your own (see Marteen / gtfour77 -- http://alltrac.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23820 (putting stock on on the "under" the steering knuckle))
-- or you can source the sleeve and spherical joint ends, etc. from Pegasus Racing or McCaster Carr and roll your own if you have the time/motivation.
2) Find tie rod ends made for another car and see if they will fit ours.

So, let's look at option 2... There was a thread that etantshi started that explored what other cars might have similar tie rod ends ( http://alltrac.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=29000 ) and it was thought that Nissan S13/S14 and Toyota AE86 ones might fit...

I thought to myself, maybe SW20 MR2 ones might fit too? Supposedly I wasn't the only one to think that (Ted asked it a few years ago: viewtopic.php?t=19811 )

So it was time to do some researching...
Looking up replacement part numbers and specifications, I was able to come up with some specs for all the cars in question. First, we start with specs for the ST185 and ST165 (same part # for both):

length: 3.3"
rod thread: M14-1.5RI
stud taper .492" to .590"
stud thread: M12-1.25

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... OOG-ES2382

interestingly this same part # is cross referenced with the following cars:
Chevrolet Nova 1985-1988
Lexus ES250 1990-1991
Toyota Camry 1987-1990
Toyota Corolla FX 1987-1988
Toyota Rav 4 2WD 1996-2000
Toyota Rav 4 4WD 1996-2000

...mmm, the only interesting car of note there is the AE82 Corolla -- might be the same as an AE86?

So let's take a look at the other cars we thought would fit and go one by one:

SW20 MR2
length: 5.9"
rod thread: M14-1.5
stud thread: M12-1.25
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... OOG-ES3559

So right threading, but longer... So this can be made to fit. If that's the case, we have these aftermarket options:

(1) Techno Toy Tuning
Pro: Spherical bearing. Non-tapered stud, so can be used to correct bump steer. Price ($130 for pair)
Cons: Requires drilling out of stock steering knuckle (therefore cannot use stock/tapered tie rod ends any more)
http://www.technotoytuning.com/productdetail.php?p=854

(2) Phoenix Power (via RHD Japan)
Pro: Spherical bearing. Stock-like replacement.
Cons: Tapered stud (like stock, therefore cannot "reverse" it). Price ($432 + shipping from Japan ($27 EMS) for pair)
http://www.rhdjapan.com/phoenix-power-p ... sw20-18333


AE86 Corolla
Moog Part #ES2382
Bingo! Sure enough, same replacement part # as the ST185 (and AE82)!

So aftermarket possibilities:
(1) Techno Toy Tuning
$240 for a pair, but these come with AE86 steering knuckle replacement (which is useless to us, they convert manual steering knuckles to power steering knuckles for AE86s)-- maybe we can convince them to sell us just the tie rod ends without those steering knuckles and lower the price to what the SW20 MR2 ones sell for ($130).
http://www.technotoytuning.com/productdetail.php?p=739

(2) Megan Racing (via eBay or other online retailers)
Pros: Spherical bearing. Looks like they are not tapered. Price ($150 for pair).
Cons: Made of aluminum (might be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it).
http://www.enjukuracing.com/megan-racin ... -7537.html

(3) Ueo Style
Cons: Price ($370 for pair)
http://www.optionsauto.com/prodinfo.asp ... EO-XUE0044
http://www.importtuner.com/tech/0510it_ ... to_07.html

(4) Super Now (via RHD Japan)
Price: $232 + shipping from Japan ($27 EMS) for pair)
Note: Fitment lists MKIV Supra as an option too! So let's look at them...
http://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-tie-r ... sans-51449


JZA80 Supra (MKIV)
Moog Part #s ES3560 + ES3561
length: 6.87"
rod thread: M14-1.5
stud thread: M12-1.25
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... G%2DES3561 Driver Side (bent)
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... G%2DES3560 Passenger Side (straight)

Like for the SW20, it's the right threading, but much longer (even longer than the SW20 MR2 ones). So this could work, if the aftermarket ones are shorter than stock...

Aftermarket possilities:
(1) Super Now (via RHD Japan) [see above under AE86 Corolla]
http://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-tie-r ... sans-51449




Nissan S13 (Nissan 240SX 1989-1994)
Moog Part #ES2814RL
Not the same part, but let's look at specs:

length: 3.94"
thread: M12-1.25 RH
stud taper: .511"
stud thread: M12-1.25 RH
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... 2DES2814RL

NOPE! -not the same threading
So no can do.


Nissan S14 (Nissan 240SX 1995-1998)
Moog Part #ES3438

length: 3.7"
thread: M14-1.5 RH
stud taper: .511 to .610"
stud thread: M12-1.25 RH
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... G%2DES3407

Better, but if you look at the stud taper/width, it is larger than ours. So you will have to drill out your steering knuckle to make it fit.
Conclusion: Doable, but not a direct replacement.

Aftermarket possibilities:
(1) Circuit Sports
They sell this as an inner and outer tie rod combo (the inner tie rods are not the same as our cars, so you'll just have to toss it):
Pros: Price @$150 per pair
http://www.pdm-racing.com/products/susp ... tml#baritr




===============

Feel free to add your research/insights to this thread and I'll update.
 

gtfour77

New member
Nice find! Thanks for all the research. I will be going with a complete one-off setup with 5/8" sphericals for tie rods but for people looking for a more affordable option this is great.
 

CMS-GT4

Active member
Do the last letters have anything to do with the direction of the threads or are they universal?
M14-1.5RI

One member used manual rack inner arms from an mr2, which are shorter and mr2 T3 tie rod ends.

I am using their flip kit for the mk1 mr2 and plan on threading the arms deeper so I can correct toe and then flip the oem tie rods underneath.
 
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