TheSamba.com :: View topic - Tie Rod Threads

Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:37 am

So I have a 1977 standard and I have a narrowed adjustable beam coming with narrowed tie rods and torsions to match.

The narrowed tie rods are threaded the same as stock tie rods and I'm getting all new tie rod ends.

I'm really confused as to what I need to get. I know I need inner and outer tie rod ends but what exactly. But what really confuses me is the thread. Some say left and some say right hand threaded.

So basically what do I need and whats the best place to get them?

Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:21 am

Inners and outers are the same except one is left-hand thread, the other is right-hand. You will need one of each for each side. 2 left and 2 right. When you turn the tie rod to adjust it the ends will both go out or in. If they had same threads one would go out and the other in...there would be no change in adjustment.

Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:21 am

One end is left hand thread, the other right. That way as you turn the inner connecting sleeve, it either lengthens or shortens.

I just bought the narrowed 2" tie rod as a complete assembly. Saved the hassle of figuring out which individual parts to order.

Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:39 am

My beam is 5" narrowed. I don't think anybody sells and assembly haha.

So correct me if Im wrong.

I need all this?

2 of these:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-311-415-811-C

and 2 of these:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-311-415-812-C

Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:48 am

Those are the same exact ones I got when I rebuilt the front end on my 72 super. So, yes that's what you need...2 of each. Cip1 calls them both outers. That confused me too when I bought them but those are the right ones.

Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:51 am

What about this?

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-131-415-813-E

One with a steering damper hole. Is that just for certain models?

Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:06 am

I'm not sure if standard beetle takes the one with the steering damper hole. My 72 super did not. Crawl under the car and take a peek is my suggestion.

Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:50 am

I dont see one so I guess ill just get 2 of each of those.

Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:39 pm

Here is a close up pic of the inner ends of the tie rods. At the right edge of the pic you can see the inner tie rod with the hole for the steering damper.

Note that the length of this tie rod end is longer than the others to allow for the hole where the damper fits. Check with the retailer where you bought the font end. Did they cut the tie rods expecting you to use the longer stock inner tie rod end with the hole, or did they make the rod a bit longer to make up for the difference? If you try to use two normal tie rod ends you may find that there isn't enough rod length.

For a 5" narrowed beam I would expect there isn't enough room for the damper any more. And if they cut the damper mount from the top tube then you won't be able to use a damper anyway.

Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:25 pm

So generally the driver side outer tie rod end is left hand threaded. Does anyone know why mine is right hand threaded?

I'm thinking the PO installed the tie rod backwards? I don't know if the inner tie rod end is supposed to be right hand threaded? I haven't checked to see if it is left hand threaded yet.

What do you guys think?

Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:32 pm

The inner and outer tie rod ends will have opposite threads from each other so when you twist the tie rod it will adjust in or out. It they were the same, one would go in while the other would go out so there would be no adjustment.
Tie rod may be flipped around or switch from other side and flipped.

Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:19 am

LeninCas wrote: So generally the driver side outer tie rod end is left hand threaded. Does anyone know why mine is right hand threaded?

I'm thinking the PO installed the tie rod backwards? I don't know if the inner tie rod end is supposed to be right hand threaded? I haven't checked to see if it is left hand threaded yet.
This is one of the better pics from the gallery that show both the left and right tie rod assemblies with the steering damper. The chrome tie rods and red urethane tie rod end boots against the black painted front end help highlight the parts.

Of the four tie rod ends.....
The right inner tie rod end is where the steering damper mounts. This is uniquely different from the other three. It is longer and left-hand threaded.

Since the inner right is left-hand threaded the outer right MUST BE right-hand threaded for the reasons mentioned above.

The left tie rod may look like it could be installed either way, but due to the short length there is a steep angle between the steering arm and the spindle. To accommodate for this one of the tie rod ends is slightly bent to direct the tie rod towards the other end. I believe it is the inner left one and it is right-hand threaded. You can see the bend here:

The bend only makes sense on the inner left position which sit higher than the outer left.

So if the left inner is right-hand threaded then the left outer MUST BE left-hand threaded.

So you see, even though three of the tie rod ends look similar they are all different. The outer two look similar (no bend), but are threaded differently. The inner left might be similar threaded to the outer right but it has the slight bend. There are four different stock part numbers for the four tie rod ends.

FYI... If you lower the front suspension enough, you might be able to do away with the bent left inner tie rod and use a right outer right-hand threaded tie rod end instead. This would be a custom install for a lowered front end. In which case you may also mount the outer tie rod ends upside down (installed in the bottom of the spindle instead of the top. I believe someone makes a bushing for an enlarged spindle hole to reverse the taper so the tie rod end can be installed from below. This is to prevent bump steer, I think?

Another FYI, the tie rod ends over the years have changed.
In the upper pic you can see the short left tie rod end used clamp on threaded ends on both ends of the rod.
In the chrome tie rods in the lower pic you can see lock nuts on both ends of the tie rods.
My tie rods had one end with right-hand thread and a lock nut, and the opposite end of the same rod was left-hand threaded with a clamp to pinch the tie rod end and prevent them from coming out.
If you are shortening your own tie rods to work with a narrowed front end, be sure to cut the right-hand threaded end of the tie rod. It is much easier to find a right-hand threaded metric tap to re-thread the end of the rod than it is to find a left-hand threaded tap. I'm sure the left-hand threaded tap will be much more expensive, if you can find one at all.

If you narrow the front beam enough that you can do without the steering damper, then the right inner tie rod end can be swapped for the same tie rod end as the left outer (no mounting hole for the damper). The same left-hand threaded tie rod end can be used for the left end of both rods. Be sure to lengthen the right tie rod to accommodate for the now shorter inner right tie rod end.