08-01-2006, 01:22 PM
Since we first released our pro tie rod ends we have been continually improving our tie rod ends, making them stand up to the abuse of drifting. The design of the tie rod ends have been more difficult than expected because drifting puts alot of stress on the tie rod ends when the steering slams to full lock.
We currently have 3 versions of our tie rod ends--
Version 1 tie rod ends (sold uptill around Sep 2005), steel shank:
http://splparts.com/parts/silviashared/suspension/multilink/SPLTieRodEnds.JPG
Shortly after introduction we sent out high strength spacers for use with the version 1 tie rod ends:
http://splparts.com/doc/spltierodend/spltierodend13.jpg
Version 2 tie rod ends (sold from Sep 2005 - May 2006). We changed the design to make the tie rod ends easier to adjust and lighter, switched to chromoly shanks w/ super duralumin spacers:
http://splparts.com/doc/spltierodend/spltierodend20.jpg
Version 3 tie rod ends (July 2006) kept the same design as version 2 tie rod ends, the shanks are still chromoly but have been additionally heat treated. The 12mm thread on the top of the shank has been improved (fine pitch thread, thread stress relief) to reduce the likelihood of bending/breaking at the top (which has occured in a rare few cases mostly due to over-torquing). Also we switched to new QA1 high misalignment rod ends, which will allow the use of less spacers (less spacers make the tie rod ends stronger) to eliminate binding on very low drift cars:
http://splparts.com/images/TREV3RODEND.JPG
We are committed to providing the best product to all our customers, so we are going to provide to all owners of our version 1 and 2 tie rod ends a free update kit which will consist of our new heat-treated chromoly shanks, hardware, and aluminum spacers (for version 1 owners). The new QA1 high misalignment rod ends are optional (because the existing v1/v2 rod ends will work) but is recommended as they extend the range of motion of the ball. The pair of new rod ends is $25. Please keep in mind that the v3 tie rod ends are now $189, while v1/v2 tie rod ends were sold at $145/$155, so the cost of ownership is still lower :) BTW if you have the seals the will not work with the new high misalignment rod end.
Since a lot of our customers may have moved/changed email, sold their car, etc, so in addition to mass emailing our customers, I am also posting in the forums to ask customers to email us ([email protected]) with the following information to receive their update kits:
Name, shipping address, contact phone number
Whether you have version 1 or version 2, regular or short-type, tie rod ends
Whether you want the updated rod ends
If you want the updated rod ends you can paypal $25 to [email protected] or call us w/ visa/mastercard/discover.
We currently have 3 versions of our tie rod ends--
Version 1 tie rod ends (sold uptill around Sep 2005), steel shank:
http://splparts.com/parts/silviashared/suspension/multilink/SPLTieRodEnds.JPG
Shortly after introduction we sent out high strength spacers for use with the version 1 tie rod ends:
http://splparts.com/doc/spltierodend/spltierodend13.jpg
Version 2 tie rod ends (sold from Sep 2005 - May 2006). We changed the design to make the tie rod ends easier to adjust and lighter, switched to chromoly shanks w/ super duralumin spacers:
http://splparts.com/doc/spltierodend/spltierodend20.jpg
Version 3 tie rod ends (July 2006) kept the same design as version 2 tie rod ends, the shanks are still chromoly but have been additionally heat treated. The 12mm thread on the top of the shank has been improved (fine pitch thread, thread stress relief) to reduce the likelihood of bending/breaking at the top (which has occured in a rare few cases mostly due to over-torquing). Also we switched to new QA1 high misalignment rod ends, which will allow the use of less spacers (less spacers make the tie rod ends stronger) to eliminate binding on very low drift cars:
http://splparts.com/images/TREV3RODEND.JPG
We are committed to providing the best product to all our customers, so we are going to provide to all owners of our version 1 and 2 tie rod ends a free update kit which will consist of our new heat-treated chromoly shanks, hardware, and aluminum spacers (for version 1 owners). The new QA1 high misalignment rod ends are optional (because the existing v1/v2 rod ends will work) but is recommended as they extend the range of motion of the ball. The pair of new rod ends is $25. Please keep in mind that the v3 tie rod ends are now $189, while v1/v2 tie rod ends were sold at $145/$155, so the cost of ownership is still lower :) BTW if you have the seals the will not work with the new high misalignment rod end.
Since a lot of our customers may have moved/changed email, sold their car, etc, so in addition to mass emailing our customers, I am also posting in the forums to ask customers to email us ([email protected]) with the following information to receive their update kits:
Name, shipping address, contact phone number
Whether you have version 1 or version 2, regular or short-type, tie rod ends
Whether you want the updated rod ends
If you want the updated rod ends you can paypal $25 to [email protected] or call us w/ visa/mastercard/discover.