BenFoOw Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 Can anyone tell me why the left sides are unobtainium? Would it be easier to build a custom set? Quote Link to comment
d.p Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 40 minutes ago, BenFoOw said: Can anyone tell me why the left sides are unobtainium? Would it be easier to build a custom set? https://www.ebay.com/b/Left-Tie-Rod-Linkages-Parts-for-Datsun-521-Pickup/33593/bn_30445707 Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 The tapers are all the same as the newer models, so if you really can't find one, it shouldn't be too hard to get later model parts an make one. Quote Link to comment
BenFoOw Posted September 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 That’s what I’m thinking. Making my own. Parts stores want $90+ or $110+ for the left complete. Rock auto only has the rights. Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 Aren’t they the same between left and right? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 The left one on the pitman arm is bent slightly to the front before continuing over to the left knuckle. The right one on the idler arm also starts off being towards the front of the truck before turning and continuing over to the right knuckle. I think this is to clear the ball joint directly behind it on the idler or pitman when the steering is over at full lock. For example the right one transits in front of the ball joint on the idler when turned to the left. Being bent forward affords more clearance. A right side on the left would face to the rear slightly and surely would collide with the ball joint behind it on the pitman arm. Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 Interesting. Both of mine are perfectly straight. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 Turn full L&R. Is there clearance with the ball joints behind them on the idler and the pitman arm? This was a Nissan picture. If straight they should interchange. If RocAuto (r w/e) only has one and are straight.... maybe that's because they fit both sides. The 620 ends look straight.... 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 (edited) A while back I bought new ones, but it looks like I only got the left one from RA. ACDelco P/N 45A2013. It has a bit of a twist to it. Maybe that’s why there is R/L. Edited September 7, 2021 by mainer311 1 Quote Link to comment
BenFoOw Posted September 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 Let me know if the list below looks good. I'm using 1980 720 parts. RA seems to have everything in stock. How many set of bushings would be required? ENERGY SUSPENSION 913101R Red; Tie Rod Dust Boot; Pack of 2 Info Round Style; Largest Dia. Taper 0.59 in./15mm; Socket Top Dia. 1-3/8 in./35mm MEVOTECH MES2473R {#4852101W00, ES2473R} Supreme Info - 2X Front Inner; RWD DELPHI TA1538 {#4852001G25, 4852041W00} Info - 2X Outer; RWD MEVOTECH MES2050S {#4851228501, ES2050S} Supreme Info - 2X Front; RWD 1 Quote Link to comment
BenFoOw Posted September 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 2 hours ago, mainer311 said: Interesting. Both of mine are perfectly straight. They are straight, but that angle of each end are different. I'm going to try and use a 720, it looks to be adjustable. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 They'll be too short as the idler and the pitman arms on the 720 are mounted outside the frame rails and closer to the wheels. A 620 is very similar to the 521 steering and the tie rods are straight. 2 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 I swear there wasd soem 521 ones for sale recently from Rock auto or Parts Geek had them. acdelco versions I got. 2 sets 1 Quote Link to comment
BenFoOw Posted September 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 2 hours ago, datzenmike said: They'll be too short as the idler and the pitman arms on the 720 are mounted outside the frame rails and closer to the wheels. A 620 is very similar to the 521 steering and the tie rods are straight. Would 510 parts work? 1 Quote Link to comment
BenFoOw Posted September 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 1 hour ago, banzai510(hainz) said: I swear there wasd soem 521 ones for sale recently from Rock auto or Parts Geek had them. acdelco versions I got. 2 sets Parts are available, but over $200 for the set....!? Is a little steep. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 (edited) You are working with a truck that is over 50 years old, that makes it an antique. The right side are common the left side is harder to find. Click on links below these are ebay lising and both sides total less than $200. https://www.ebay.com/itm/202889527795?hash=item2f3d2881f3:g:TNUAAOSwAAFglHZ- https://www.ebay.com/itm/184564308746?fits=Make%3ADatsun&epid=76591499&hash=item2af8e3db0a:g:vKIAAOSwgmBfyP8j Edited September 7, 2021 by Charlie69 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 25 minutes ago, BenFoOw said: Parts are available, but over $200 for the set....!? Is a little steep. Welcome to owning a 521.... Sorry to say but some stuff you just have to pay for.... 2 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 You could also look into custom one.. not sure what that would cost, I got lucky and got mine from rockauto... they do have a lifetime warranty but if they dont have them in stock when I need to swap them that might not even matter... 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 7, 2021 Report Share Posted September 7, 2021 Quick search turned up this place... See what you can figure out for cost comparison... https://www.pacificcustoms.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=tie-rods-and-tie-rod-ends&Store_Code=PC 1 Quote Link to comment
BenFoOw Posted September 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2021 Ended up going with an Ebay set. $165.00 shipped for the set. NOS 2 Quote Link to comment
Oilspot Posted September 17, 2021 Report Share Posted September 17, 2021 On 9/6/2021 at 5:44 PM, mainer311 said: Interesting. Both of mine are perfectly straight. do you have any clearance issues setup like this???? 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 17, 2021 Report Share Posted September 17, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Oilspot said: do you have any clearance issues setup like this???? None that I know of. My 521 has always turned like a bus though, so maybe I do. The tie rods that I bought were both listed for the 521. I got one from Rock Auto and one from Amazon, since RA didn't have it. ACDelco 45A2013 (left), and 45A2012 (right) Edited September 17, 2021 by mainer311 1 Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted September 26, 2021 Report Share Posted September 26, 2021 I thought about starting another thread, but there's already a lot of info in this one, so I'll dump everything here. I bought a set of left and right outer tie rod assemblies back in June. They've been sitting on my bench, waiting for me to take these pics and post them. There is definitely a left and right. I took a bunch of pics of the ones I have with some of the purchasing info. I've ordered from Kentigo in Mexico several times before. I decided to put these all on my photobucket account. Had it just been one or two pics, would have just uploaded them here. As for the angles at each end.....if you're running stock ride height, then the angles are a lot more necessary than if you've lowered the front suspension. I've ordered a set of these to check with my ball joint conversion. The bar in the center would be a lot easier/cheaper to create in a shorter/longer version than it is with the HB tie rods. Here's the page with the info I have for the tie rod setups I've used with the ball joint conversions. I don't recall the thread size/pitch, but it might be possible to find an existing turnbuckle that is longer. I needed shorter. Midwest Control Products would be a good place to start looking for one if needed. http://www.bluehandsinc.com/ball-joint-infoparts.html 2 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted September 26, 2021 Report Share Posted September 26, 2021 On 9/17/2021 at 8:22 AM, mainer311 said: None that I know of. My 521 has always turned like a bus though, so maybe I do. The tie rods that I bought were both listed for the 521. I got one from Rock Auto and one from Amazon, since RA didn't have it. ACDelco 45A2013 (left), and 45A2012 (right) My 521 has a super tight turning radius, like I can make a single turn U-turn on a regular residential street with cars parked on one side - much tighter than any fwd vehicle... 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted September 26, 2021 Report Share Posted September 26, 2021 If someone wanted to do some R&D, you could probably make an entirely custom tie rod set using circle track race car stuff. The only crucial measurement here is the taper on the tie rod end, but even then, you could re-taper the steering arm and center link with a taper ream, which can be had for about $40. There's got to be something here to get this done - https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Search?query=tie rod 1 Quote Link to comment
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