Hello all. My wife's 92 745 needed a new inner tie rod so I get the part from my local parts store and all's fine untill I compare the old part to the new one. They look identical except for the diameter of the male threaded end at the ball joint. The old is 3/4 inch diameter and the new is 1/2 inch. Digging deeper I find that the steering rack was replaced in 08 with a remanufactured one. I can't find any ID mark on said rack and local supply house's (CAP,NAPA) can't match the tie rod without knowing the rack. Their parts data doesen't show detailed dimensions either. Do any forum readers know of a site that gives detailed dimensions of tie rods, parts, etc.? Has anyone solved this problem before?

 

Cam Gear made a rack and ZF both made a rack for these cars in 89. I can't get you the specifics that you asked for, but I would see about getting the one for the other type of rack than the one that you got. That is if you can't find any info.

 

usually the tell sign is in the protective "bellows" boot that covers the socket... one will have a small end where it attaches to the center of the tie rod, and the other will have a rubber disc on the rod and the bellows end is about the same size on both ends...

ZF will have the disc with the large opening bellows

TRW and CAM gear will have the small end bellows.

hope this helps,
Darin