Tie rod replacement

[Lowndex]

My 04 Marauder needs a new inner tie rod. Anybody have a better part to recommend than stock?

[FordNut]

Does rack & pinion use inner tie rods? I thought the outers connected directly to the rack.

[MdnightMarauder]

No its just a rod ford part number 3w1z-3280-ba. Cost $31.53.

[SergntMac]

My Big Red Book says we have tie- rod ends on a Marauder.

Section 211-00 has a diargam, and item #6 is identified as a tie-rod end that links the steering rack to the rotating hub assembly. Shorter than customary tie-rods, I would have called it a link, or, a knuckle, but those terms could be equally confusing with other components. It does function as a typical tie-rod, the P/N is 3A131 in this book.

Hope this helps, carry on gents.

[MdnightMarauder]

Yeah mac I know the base part number is 3a131 on inner tie rods but on the marauder it is more like a straight rod. And I just looked it up in the ford parts catalog and the base number is 3280.

[FordNut]

And my education continues...

[SergntMac]

Not correcting anyone, just offering the 411 from the Big Red Book.

I don't know inner from outer here, never owned a car with rack and pinion steering before. The diagram shows it to be short, slightly curved upward, and on the outside end of the assembly. The "center link" of this assembly appears to be the hdraulic steering rack itself.

All this crap was different when I was a kid and wrenching...

[ScottB]

What happened to the original? I would have thought other things would get destroyed before you bend or break that, but :confused:

[Lowndex]

I appreciate all the discussion, but the question remains: is there a better, after-market, tie rid replacement?

[MdnightMarauder]

I would just go with the oem tie rod. cant go wrong.

[Lowndex]

Okay, I went with the OEM tie rod part and fixed another problem as well. During hard breaking, I experienced shaking and poor breaking (longer to stop). I have Wilwood brakes from TCE Performance and new BF Goodrich KDW's. Now, the shaking is gone and that mother locks up sending my fat head into the steering wheel. I have to lose weight. I can't stand the strain on my fat belly from such fabulous stopping power!

Thanks to all for their help on this issue.

[DEFYANT]

What went wrong? How did the brakes contribute to tie rod failure?

Weight loss? Tell me about it!

[SergntMac]

During hard breaking, I experienced shaking and poor breaking (longer to stop). I have Wilwood brakes from TCE Performance and new BF Goodrich KDW's. Now, the shaking is gone and that mother locks up sending my fat head into the steering wheel.Once again, we learn more 411 on the problem, after troubleshooting your solution.

Y'all...The more you tell us when asking for help, the better the answer when anyone replies.

[sfsv]

The 03 and up panthers have a very low failure rate when it comes to steering componets. The struts and shocks are another issue. I took care a lot of 03 TC with more than 100K miles on them and I have only seen failed racks (1 or 2 in limousines) and front spring insulators. Many times tech's would mistakenly replace the outer tie rods when they hear a squeak noise when turning at low speeds, when the noise is actually the spring insulators.