Received my Rock Krawler tie rod yesterday, (Thanks, Bustabizz!) and picked up a pair of Moog ends for it.

One compaint right off the bat is the packaging. All they (RK) did was shrink wrap the tie rod and slap on shipping labels. It arrived with both ends scratched and scarred and multiple knicks and impacts along the length of the tie rod from being handled in shipping. I can't believe they didn't put this in a box.

Next, I cant get the tie rod ends to thread into the tie rod. The tie rod ends will only thread in about 1/4" and seem to bind up. I can't get a good grip on the tie rod to wrench them in, and I don't want to use a vise or channel lock type tool because I don' t want to further damage the finish. There is a small amount of overspray from the powdercoat in there, but I don't think it is enough to cause this problem.

The lock nuts thread on to the tie rod ends just fine. Since RK makes the rod and the lock nuts, shouldn't the threading be the same?

Does anyone have any advice on how to get the ends threaded in all the way without damaging the powdercoating?
Anyone else have this problem?

 

I just had mine installed yesterday with moog ends and the shop ran into the same issue. They said they used some anti seize and that got it to work.

 

I also put on antisieze, stood on the bent end and threw an adjustable wrench on the pitman arm end. I had mopar ends though. The antisieze also makes it easy for the jam nuts to come loose so be sure to tighten the hell out of them.

I was thrown off by the lack of packaging at first too. RK prob figured if you're putting one of these on you're going to be bashing it on rocks anyhow. It is pretty indestructible.

 

I have the same tie tod and thought the same about the packing but realized what I did to my factory one so knew it wouldn't be pretty long anyways. I beat the heck out of it and love it.

 

Take a wire rotor brush and gently clean the powdercoating off the threads. I used a dremel on mine. Only way I could get it work.

 

Thanks everyone for the tip on the antiseize. I will give it a try.

 

X3 on the Anti-Seize! I used an adjustable wrench on the Moog and used my incredible handstrength to keep the rod from turning.

And I agree the shrink wrap isn't cutting it! Use a box RK!

RT

 

did anyone with Moog ends have the ends come with a hole for the grease fitting, but no threads? I'm not sure if I need to thread the hole before I put the grease fitting in, or if it is supposed to be self tapping?