Drag link and Tie rod alternatives for a RHD

[ducktapeguy]

During my last trip I managed to strip out the tie rod for the front left knuckle. Unfortunately, it's a special RHD tie rod that I haven't been able to find anywhere. I have been looking for one for the past 2 years and even contacted Crown Automotive, the only supplier for this part, and they told me they no longer manufacture it and the best option is to find a used one.

The tie rod in question. It has a slight bend in it and a tapered hole for the drag link. The knuckle on that side doens't have the second hole for the drag link, otherwise it would be a much simpler solutoin.



So now I'm looking at what I can find that can work in it's place or modify something. So far the options are

1. Later model cherokees use the same tie rod specs and similar setup, but I don't know if I can flip it around and make it work for RHD. The bend is in the wrong direction.


2. Ford also uses the same tie rods, but I haven't seen a similar Y-style setup on their cars
3. I could modify a setup. The cherokee drag link almost looks close enough but the bend is going in the wrong direction. I could go with a hi-steer option and flip the tie rods (possibly) I don't know if that's going to affect anything else and how that will affect steering. Even if I cut off the fixed end from the cherokee setup and and thread it for an adjuster sleeve that might work.
4. Custom made tie rod. Ideally I'd like a straight tie rod going from knuckle to knuckle and have something that accepts standard tie rod ends. I'd just need a way to connect the drag link to it somehow.
5. I could possibly rebuild the threads on the OEM tie rod, weld it up and recut new threads. I don't know how the heat of welding will affect the ball joint. Also, I'm still in the same position that if I need to replace it in the future I'm stuck again.
6. Last resort might be to swap to Heim Joints. Then I can double up the joint on the knuckle with an over/under configuration. I don't really like the idea of heim joints and would prefer tie rod ends.

If anyone knows of a similar style tie-rod that can be modified to work, I'm all ears. Even if I have to make some custom adapters, do a tie rod flip, ream out the taper for larger tie rods, etc.

 

[John N]

What is/was used on other models of mail Jeeps and might they work? I’ve seen XJ and TJ right hand mail Jeeps. Some pieces might need modifications to work, but maybe…

 

[barrys]

What about #1 and using a Rhd Cherokee piece if you can find it? Late model do you mean XJ or the current Cherokee? I was thinking XJ

 

[ducktapeguy]

I'm not 100% sure, but the other postals have a 2 hole RHD knuckle which allows the drag link to mount directly to the steering arm vs. the tie rod. And there are some RHD tie rods that have integrated TRE (i.e. the tie rod end and tie rod are all one piece). Still looking at those to see if I can make it work and if I can even get them.

What about #1 and using a Rhd Cherokee piece if you can find it? Late model do you mean XJ or the current Cherokee? I was thinking XJ

I was looking at XJ stuff, they seem like it would be closest to a CJ

So far the easiest solution that might work is a Rusty's Off road YJ tie rod upgrade. This uses standard jeep TRE's and looks like it would be easy enough to flip them around with little/no modification.



Another option I just thought of is swapping over to FJ40 components. I also have an FJ40 and just looked underneath and realized the components are pretty similar, and RHD FJ40's were a lot more common than RHD Jeeps. The tapers are slightly different, I don't know if they're close enough where it's be a drop in replacement or I might have to ream out the knuckles.

 

[rubclt]

According to AI… a standard LHD (left-hand drive) tie rod and drag link assembly cannot simply be flipped or reversed to work correctly as an RHD setup on a CJ-8..

RHD-specific ends (Crown J5350570 long drag-link end and J0918257 left outer end).

Source or have custom tubes made to those measured lengths and thread them for the proper ends, or Adapt an LHD HD tube (e.g., from a Rugged Ridge wide-track kit) by cutting/re-threading and using the RHD ends — but this requires careful measurement and checking for binding/clearance.

If you measure current links AI can look for alternatives @ducktapeguy

 

[ag4ever]

What you show is the same as my Overlander.

Would this work?

Speedway Generic Kit

 

[ag4ever]

Another option is to take the original tre to a welder/machinist; have them increase the diameter by welding, then machine it to the correct diameter and retap the threads.