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Thu May 10, 2012 6:05 am

I was installing the gas tank and fuel hoses when I saw this. What is this? Is this bad?

Thu May 10, 2012 6:10 am

That's your tie rod end, and no, it isn't good. Depending on how long it has been that way plenty of water and dirt has gotten in there and worked its evil on the joint.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:13 am

crud!!! Is this something I can fix???

Thu May 10, 2012 6:17 am

yes, but it will mean you need an allignment afterward. basically, this joint makes it possible to rotate the wheel left and right on the front beam. check the others, there should be a few more on the whole steerting setup. what you will find is that you have excessive play in the steering, meaning you can turn the wheel a bit, and it doesnt move the tires right away. its not a easy task, but it isnt to bad. look of www.busdepot.com for replacement parts.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:18 am

They are also called "Ball Joints" which will help with your searching for a new one.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:20 am

I tried doing a search on this but couldnt find anything in particular with the front tie rods.

Additionally, yes. I have noticed the front end play of the steering. I did change the drag link though

Thu May 10, 2012 6:23 am

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211415801F

maybe check Germansupply.com, and a few other sites for the parts you need.

i think you can buy the ball joint alone for a bit cheaper, but no idea where...

Thu May 10, 2012 6:23 am

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=311415811CIT
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=311415812CIT

Is this what it is...and Italian made?!?!?!? Does it really matter? Any have these?

Thu May 10, 2012 6:25 am

yep thats it. when you remove your old one, Penetrating oil on the threads, and count the turns to come out, and reinstall the new one with the same number of turns. itll get you close to the same allignment.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:27 am

Whats this business of the non-adj and adj tie rods/ball joints. The link that Stuartzickefoose provided looks like a whole piece. Could this be for an earlier bus 1971 and earlier?

Thu May 10, 2012 6:28 am

Ball joints and tie rod ends are two completely different parts.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:39 am

Stuartzickefoose wrote: They are also called "Ball Joints" which will help with your searching for a new one. Not so. Tie rod ends go on the end of the tie rods. Ball joints hold the wheel to the chassis, and provide the pivot point for turning the wheel.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:41 am

Ok, now I am greatly confused, lol Am I supposed to be looking for tie rod ends, tie rods, ball joints??!??!?!

Thu May 10, 2012 6:42 am

by ball joints, i was suggesting to look at those as well, because the boots will be similar in condition, so to get all of them would be ideal.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:42 am

Stuartzickefoose wrote: http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211415801F

maybe check Germansupply.com, and a few other sites for the parts you need.

i think you can buy the ball joint alone for a bit cheaper, but no idea where...

The problem with referring to that part as a "balljoint" is that on vehicles its already reserved for the suspension balljoint. So when searching search "tie rod end" and you will find it. Before you go replacing it unnecessarily you should check for play in it, if there is none than pop it out of the steering knuckle and remove the boot and check for wear, if all is fine you can go to your local auto parts store to the help section and get a replacement boot. The new boot will be a pressure fit and not a clamp on style. I replaced the boots on my bug with these because the boots that were on m new tierods dried out quickly and cracked. The replacement boots I bought are fine 3 years later. Just clean out the old tierod end, pack with grease if theres no grease nipple and put the new boot on and attatch it back to the steering knuckle and your good to go.

Dont stop at that one. While your down there check all of your tierods for play and or torn boots. Check your balljoints for play and check your steering coupler to make sure its not going bad. Its a good time to check your wheel bearings and brakes as well. Grease anything that has a grease nipple on it as well.

Thu May 10, 2012 6:45 am

Stuartzickefoose wrote: by ball joints, i was suggesting to look at those as well, because the boots will be similar in condition, so to get all of them would be ideal.

No, if you read all your previous posts you were calling a tierod end a balljoint, dont back step. Just own the mistake, it happens.

Thu May 10, 2012 7:13 am

Before I changed my drag link, it was bad (the play- at least 90-100 degrees of play. I changed the drag link, now it is about 45 degrees of play. So i am pretty sure I should probable change the tie rods , right?

Thu May 10, 2012 7:32 am

Is it recommended to get the who tie rod, or just the tie rod ends?

Thu May 10, 2012 8:49 am

porschpow wrote: Ok, now I am greatly confused, lol Am I supposed to be looking for tie rod ends, tie rods, ball joints??!??!?!

In this picture you can see at the upper right is the upper ball joint and at the lower left is your tie rod. When you do replace it, make sure you pre-adjust your new tie rod, if it is the adjustable kind, with the old one just to keep your alignment as close to the original position as possible just so you can make it to a shop that will do the alignment for you.

Thu May 10, 2012 9:01 am

porschpow wrote: Is it recommended to get the who tie rod, or just the tie rod ends?

If there is no play in the tie rod end then just a new boot is needed. Pop the tie rod end out of the spindle arm and replace the boot. No alignment will be needed if you don't mess where the tie rod end goes into the tie rod.

You may need one of these to get the tie rod end out though: