I have hysteer on my truck I did not install it so I dont know much about it at this point, but i have a tie rod or drag link end going out and need to find replacement for it, how do I figure out what brand it is? Or does it matter are there after market standard replacements or do I need to go thru manufacturer to get them? Should I replace all of them, or just the one bad one? All of this steering and suspension stuff is fairly new to me so any guidance would be appreciated.

 

they're probably fj80 ends. if not, change them to fj80's.

 

Thank you, that gives me a place to start.

 

I found them listed with right and left hand thread is that referring to the the side that it's located on? how do I know which one I need? I have never had to change one before so I am not to sure about it. I primarily need to know so I know which way to loosen the old ones. Don't want busted knuckles traded for wasted time going the wrong way with the wrench.

 

You'll need to figure out which way your tierod is threaded (inside, where the ends thread in to it.) and that will dictate which thread direction is needed. Most are threaded both, so as to allow for alignment adjusting without disassembling the rod entirely.
the DS is probably right and PS is probably left.

Regardless, you should be able to see which way the threads are cut and that will allow you to determine which direction you must wrench it in. Don't forget to soak the ends in some ATF/PB Blaster/whatever you use to break loose rusty ˟˟˟˟. If anti-seize wasn't used and it's been installed for some time, I bet those ends are stuck more tight than a ticks ass.

 

Yep you can look at the ends and tell that they're rusty and will not let loose easily. Soaking and a breaker bar for sure. Thank you for not using left and right because that depends on where you are standing. When I looked it up that is all I could find. I don't know why it isn't stated that way so it's clear could have been wrench on for days. You can't see the threads on my ends just the rod and nut up against the end.

 

One of the nuts should have a marking or index in it, that one is left hand threads. As far as tie rod and drag link going out, what exactly do you mean? The only thing that can go bad on them is the tie rod ends. They can have broken rubber boots loose all their grease and have tons of play in them. As far as replacing, any fj80 tie rod end from any local auto parts store will work or you can order them from any offroad website like wabfab, marlin crawler, low range off road, sky manufacture off road and so on.

 

You are right there is nothing else that can go bad, I was word fumbling trying to describe the problem. I will look for the marks. Thank you for the heads up. That helps and I will order the fj80s asap.

 

Pretty sure you need 2 of each

 

So you think I should just do all 4 ends? I was just going to do the bad one..

 

Ok upon further inspection I found strange markings on the tie rod ends. Ds: B and on the PS B with 3 dots in front of the B. The marks are on the underside of the solid metal neck of the rod ends and not on the castle nut. Hmmm the rod ends also have written on top of heads Free Live or dive not sure. Doesn't matter but was curious about what was originally installed. Any ideas what they are? I am thinking they are Really ancient, a the rubber looks squished flat like there is no grease left in them at all.