Tie rods / ends, for track car

specmiata · Postby **specmiata** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:40 pm

Happy Friday all,

Managed to 're-adjust my front wheel aligment' by hitting a tyre wall at Sandown a few weeks ago and need to replace a tie rod. In the the spirit of always replacing broken stuff with stronger / better i will replace both sides and tie rod ends.

Is there is any advantage in looking for, or is there even such thing as?, a non-genuine 'higher spec.' tie rods, or is 'a tie rod, a tie rod' and just go the genuine Mazda part?

Likewise, is the Ebay stuff OK, have seen some out of the U.S. saying they are OEM???

Thanks...

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:46 pm

Only tips I can give is that Power steering and Non-power steering tie rods have a different thread.

And as far as I know, Manual steering tie rods aren't made anymore (well, one company lists them...... but they have the Power steering thread...... which means on installation they just strip the threads in the steering rack)

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Fri May 11, 2012 4:34 pm

Genuine R package units have a different angle to help prevent bump steer on lowered cars. Bit pricey though and have to buy from the USA.

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specmiata · Postby **specmiata** » Fri May 11, 2012 5:06 pm

What do you call pricey...? and brand?

Muzdaman · Postby **Muzdaman** » Fri May 11, 2012 7:31 pm

$10 more per side is pricey?

tobias · Postby **tobias** » Fri May 11, 2012 9:34 pm

Nb power steering tie rods fit an na manual rack, I know this because I have done it, worked fine

specmiata · Postby **specmiata** » Thu May 24, 2012 3:58 pm

Thanks everyone......looks like some NB units are the go!!

Furai · Postby **Furai** » Thu May 24, 2012 5:03 pm

If you want stronger ones it works out to about $90 for some I-Concept ones shipped from Japan.

david_syd_au · Postby **david_syd_au** » Thu May 24, 2012 5:29 pm

Playing the devil's advocate :-)

If you replace the tie rods with something stronger, doesn't that just mean that something else is more likely to bend or break if you again get up close and personal with a wall?

Maybe it is better to bend the relatively cheap and easily replaced rods and ends?

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu May 24, 2012 10:27 pm

A tie rod is not just a tie rod. Those in the know for specific cars etc are aware of the better brands. Price can be a pointer. Try Bursons for a listing and ask for brand info and price - then check some other sources. If you have brand info you can compare. An oem tie rod will be a very good bench mark- quality will be good and price? PS just replaced a full set on a vehicle (5).