TheSamba.com :: View topic - Need to confirm something regarding tie rod ends

Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:09 pm

Left/driver's side is the adjustable side on my bus. Am I correct in assuming I need to order 1 left hand side thread and 1 right hand thread tie rod end for it? I just need something to confirm this as I can't crawl under the bus right now and that's what makes sense to me. Searching doesn't clear this up.
Thanks!

Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:12 pm

Yes, opposite threads make turning the center section alter the length, same thread on both ends would make it stay the same length and just move the center along the threads.

Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:13 pm

busdaddy wrote: Yes, opposite threads make turning the center section alter the length, same thread on both ends would make it stay the same length and just move the center along the threads.

Thanks. That's what I had "playing" in my head.

BTW, love the new avatar and the "location"! :lol:

Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:29 pm

Yes and no. It takes one right hand thread and one left hand thread tie rod end on an adjustable tie rod. But the left/drivers side is where the non-adjustable tie rod should be. And the right side tie rod is adjustable. You will hear from a lot of people that it doesn't make any difference but yes it does and it's that way for a purpose.

Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:36 pm

Desertbusman wrote: Yes and no. It takes one right hand thread and one left hand thread tie rod end on an adjustable tie rod. But the left/drivers side is where the non-adjustable tie rod should be. And the right side tie rod is adjustable. You will hear from a lot of people that it doesn't make any difference but yes it does and it's that way for a purpose.

Be that as it may, CIP and Bus depot sell left side as adjustable and right as non-adjustable.

Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:57 pm

Maybe J.C. Whitney does or Mid America does also. So what. It's your bus dude.

Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:14 pm

Desertbusman wrote: Maybe J.C. Whitney does or Mid America does also. So what. It's your bus dude.

My point was keeping it simple, as in getting parts. I was not saying it's the right way because they sell it.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:03 am

Desertbusman wrote: But the left/drivers side is where the non-adjustable tie rod should be. And the right side tie rod is adjustable.

unfortunately there is some confusion about this, easily traced to VW's own documentation. the VW type 2/68 parts book shows clearly the adjustable tie rod on the left side. the orange VW repair manual / type 2 shows the adjustable tie rod on the right. the VW service manual (blue one for '68-'70) shows the adjustable tie rod on the right.

the part number for the fixed tie rod ends with 802F, an even number, which always denotes the right sided part where left and right exist. so according to the part numbering convention, the fixed tie rod is the right side, which is why vendors would call it the right side.

on a split bus the right is fixed and noted as such in all the documentation.

so there really isn't a right or wrong way to do it.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:43 pm

germansupplyscott wrote:
so there really isn't a right or wrong way to do it.

Truly. It so very does not matter. It matters however, that people get off their lazy butts and adjust that drag link when they are done!
Colin

Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:01 pm

What matters is replacing the non-adjustable tie rod with and adjustable one and ending up with 2 adjustable tie rods along with not understanding the issues with adjusting the whole steering system. Having one non adjustable tie rod assures the correct setting of the relay lever. And like Scott has mentioned in the past there is nothing wrong with 2 adjustable tie rods, PROVIDING the person setting it up understands the way to do it correctly. Considering from the many times the tie rod topic comes up there is one big bunch of error and confusion out there. For convenience the driver side is the side to have the fixed tie rod since that's the side of the vehicle where you are working to align the first wheel straight ahead, and center the box first and then adjust the drag link. So that first wheel establishes where the relay lever is positioned. If that first wheel has an adjustable tie rod that adjustment needs to be the same pin to pin length as an non adjustable tie rod. Which is approximately 22- 5/16". If it isn't the relay lever will be swinging thru an arc different than intended. And then that tie rod should never be adjusted again for the purpose of setting the toe. The toe adjustment is strictly and solely done with the other tie rod. Where the whole thing will get messed up is someone tweaking both tie rods to come up with the toe adjustment. As far as which side gets the tie rod that shouldn't be adjusted evidently doesn't matter. Properly aligned, both of mine measure approximately the same. I doubt that would be very common to find with busses using two adjustable tie rods and indicating that they wern't properly set up. Chances are a bus like that would have the relay lever swinging through a non centered arc and usually the steering box won't be centered either.