opinion on clearance issue with tie rod

[mikes85elkyss]

I have an 85 el camino. ive got qa1 coilovers all round and decided to finaly put some 2" drop spindles on so that im not sitting on bump stops. I have 18x9.5 with 5.25bs wheels on the car. they fit great before the spindles but now since I put them on the tie rod is rubbing the lip of the rim bad. I clearance the tie rod a small amount but I cannot drive the car because they still are too close. I ordered a small 3mm wheel spacer to get the distance open a little bit. but what I was wondering if I should change the outter tie rod to a bump steer kit or possibly just a custom rod end design so that I can retain more clearance?84155

[Rod]

whos drop spindle did you use? do they make a shorter steering arm for you or a heim joint tie rod end? to go with there dropped spindle, happens with alot of drop spindles, David has a page on that issue, Pozzi Racing (http://www.pozziracing.com/first_gen_suspension_geome.htm#Drop%20Spindles)

[BBC71Nova]

I ran into a similar issue with my build. I'm running RideTech dropped spindles and 17X8 wheels. I ended up getting some thick hardened washers from McMaster and using them to space the steering arm out away from the spindle. That gained needed clearance in my case but I'll likely end up with bumpsteer/rod-end setup as well for even more clearance. My car is only in mockup stage so no idea how well this will work. Moving the steering arm end does limit the turning but may not be anymore limiting than larger wheels and tires, etc anyway. I need to install the swaybar as well and check clearance there. And yes, I have longer bolts that will be used with final install :-)

I'd put this issue out of my head for a while after picking up the TruTurn setup that takes care of this issue. However, the TruTurn doesn't fit with my big block headers ;-(. So I'm interested in the outcome of this thread...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/steeringArmSpacers-1.jpg

[David Pozzi]

When the car hits bumps or corners, the tie rod is pushed towards the rim even more. The wheel will also flex when cornering hard, so you could wind up needing 3/8" static clearance. You could try a Baer Tracker rod end on it.

[SSLance]

Here is some pictures of my Baer bump steer kit on my 1985 Monte Carlo. I'm not sure it that will gain you enough clearance for your wheels or not? Depending on how many spacers you put where when tuning the bumpsteer, might just put the rod end into your tire instead of your wheel.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/DSC03844JPG-2.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/DSC03843JPG-2.jpg

Those are 16x8 rims with 4.25" BS

These are my 17x8 rims with 4.5" backspace.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/DSC03802JPG-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/DSC03801JPG-1.jpg

Both with stock G-body spindles, not drop spindles.

This is the best picture I have of my tie rod ends when I ran drop spindles, did not have the bumpsteer kit on back then and no wheels on at the time but might help with perspective.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/P3060369JPG-1.jpg