REPAIRING TIE RODS ON A BUDGET

[clodhopper]

My Tie rods are shot. New ones are $65 a piece, so heres what I did.... This is a picture of the rod ball end. It was welded up at some point previous, but never filed back to the right size.

So using a reciprocating saw and metal blade, I sawed the ends off.

Then I purchased a bag of 3/4 plain steel balls from Mcmaster Carr, part # 96455K59, for about $10 dollars (they must be plain steel, not chrome hardened so they can be welded)

and ground a flat spot on the ball with the bench grinder. I then tacked the ball in place, and took the ball to a welding shop to have it welded up. The welder is charging $20. So for about $31 and a little bit of my time, I will have new tie rods...

The leftovers are great slingshot ammo!!

Also, I cut a .033 shim out of 24 gauge sheet metal, as all I have is a .060 shim. The shims are $6. Mine was basically free (scrap)

[clodhopper]

Here it is all finished.