GB: Tie Rod "Flip Kit" Bushings

[Mazda_Powered]

woah! what do you think happened?

[KAinjection]

After taking the wheel off and checking, apparently from the increased track width I was running on minimum threads on one side, and adjusting the toe-in and trying to make sure the steering wheel was straight was enough to send it over the edge, and it pulled the last few threads out. Lesson kids: when increasing track width make sure you know how much thread engagement you have on the tie rods. I assumed and didnt take the time to check, which could have caused a serious accident.

Just glad it waited till I was in the driveway and not 70MPH on the freeway or wide open mid corner like I was doing just before I pulled in the driveway.

[Mazda_Powered]

I agree, that could have gone sooooo wrong, I'm glad you caught it in time man!! So glad lol

So looks like someone needs some adapters to add some length to their inner tie rods tho, any ideas?

[KAinjection]

I was thinking that before, but then again how many people on here have Jims control arms or running MX3 stuff and nobody else has said or had this problem that I can remember. It may be something I have done wrong in my setup.

[crazycanadian]

Not likely. When I had a 323 rack in my car with the mx3 control arms I had very little threads left on the inner tie rod. When checking parts specs the mx3 tie rods are longer then 323 stuff. I think it was longer then escort stuff as well...

[KAinjection]

The escort inner rods are the same length, but the outers are longer.

After replacing the rod end in the control arm yesterday, I realized this was related to something I did. I installed the arms and adjusted that rod end, so that I could easliy slide the front bolt in and the arm moved with practically no resistance. Since I did that, the rod end on both sides was 1" past the jamb nut, making my track width a little excessive and my caster way off.

I am now redoing the rod ends so they are all the way in and now the track width will be at mx3 width like the arms were originally intended to be installed.

I will perform a retest of the bushings after I get all this done and install my camber/caster plates.

[Mazda_Powered]

good luck man!!

[crazycanadian]

The escort inner rods are the same length, but the outers are longer.

After replacing the rod end in the control arm yesterday, I realized this was related to something I did. I installed the arms and adjusted that rod end, so that I could easliy slide the front bolt in and the arm moved with practically no resistance. Since I did that, the rod end on both sides was 1" past the jamb nut, making my track width a little excessive and my caster way off.

I am now redoing the rod ends so they are all the way in and now the track width will be at mx3 width like the arms were originally intended to be installed.

I will perform a retest of the bushings after I get all this done and install my camber/caster plates.

that still makes me curious.. I don't think you could have pushed it that far.... I am running Rx7 ball joints which pushes my track width past mx3 lengths as well... I haven't had problems with running out of threads on my tie rods yet.... My axles are close to the limit though...

[KAinjection]

Got the car all back together with the proper track width, camber/caster plates installed.

Alignment is tire/street friendly:
-1.7 camber and 0 toe all the way around.
Caster is unknown since I didnt feel like trying to figure out how to calculate it, but its one bolt hole positive from center on the plates. Should be more then stock.
I may try more later but nothing too crazy since I have manual steering, but the change I made didnt seem to increase the effort at all.

Final verdict on these: The steering feels very sharp and is super responsive, but that also makes it feel nervous and it certainly does have more bump steer.

Until there is a solution to move the control arm down, I dont recommend them.

Sorry to get everyone hyped up and then let down, but its better it got tested instead of eveyone hating me or Ferdi for buying these. Big thanks to Ferdi for making these, you do great work.

[crazycanadian]

I am glad you did the testing before going a head with everything bud.. Sorry it didn't turn out the way you wanted it, hopefully something can be done to help the lower control arm angles and that will improve things more then...

[ftjandra]

Oh well, at least you can simply flip them around and go back to the stock configuration.

--Ferdi

[Desolation]

Thread revival time!

Did anyone ever come up with a control arm solution? I was thinking about this tapered insert idea and was stoked when I saw this thread. But now the results don't seem that great..

I am using YellowSpeed Competition coilovers and my tie rods are at a terrible angle