70 - Tie rods/ ball joints

[Capt Mark]

Well it is raining just about everyday now its time take the legs off the Z

and put on the new suspension so...........

Does any one know if the 70 tie rod ends and ball joints are different

size than 71, 72, 73 ?

Thanks Capt Mark

[Bambikiller240]

Yes, they are. From what I've heard they are almost impossible to find anymore. It has been discussed somewhere on this website (several times) recently

EDIT: It is the diameter of the posts on the Ball-joints and Tie-rod ends that are smaller. This means that the corresponding holes in the steering knuckles are smaller (on the 70 versions) than on the 71-73 versions.

One way or another, the tie-rods, ball joints and steering knuckles all need to match.

[Capt Mark]

Thanks again Carl, that is what I suspected.

Capt Mark

[abas]

Capt Mark

something you might want to check.

Looking at the balljoints from my own 1970 car it seems to only be the bigger balljoints that are different ( the ones that attach directly to the bottom of the main strut. The steering tie rod joints seem to be the same for 1970 and later years.

Hope it helps

Andrew

[ZSaint]

I just went through my suspension and put all new pieces on my 2/71 Z. I found that Spicer makes a ball joint that is smooth on the lower (ground) side vs. the Datsun ball joint that has a spring in it. I went with the Spicer joint because of a 'cleaner' look. It sorta looks like the steering rod ends. Did I make a mistake?

[240ZX]

Capt Mark

something you might want to check.

Looking at the balljoints from my own 1970 car it seems to only be the bigger balljoints that are different ( the ones that attach directly to the bottom of the main strut. The steering tie rod joints seem to be the same for 1970 and later years.

Hope it helps

Andrew

The ball joint are the same but the tie rod ends are smaller on the 70 240. You can either ream out the tapper to fit the later tie rod ends or replace the steering knuckles with the later version. If you go the route of replacing the steering knuckles, you may consider replacing them with the quicker steering (shorter), steering knuckles.....provides you with a much nicer steering responce.

[Bambikiller240]

Capt Mark

something you might want to check.

Looking at the balljoints from my own 1970 car it seems to only be the bigger balljoints that are different ( the ones that attach directly to the bottom of the main strut. The steering tie rod joints seem to be the same for 1970 and later years.

Not disputing what you found on your car, Andrew; but there are different tie-rod ends for 1970 Z's. This can be verified in the Nissan microfiche.

Some owners when faced with replacing tie-rods but not wanting to replace steering knuckles and ball joints used a tapered reamer to enlarge the hole in the front of the steering knuckles to accept the later tie-rods.

[240ZX]

Not disputing what you found on your car, Andrew; but there are different tie-rod ends for 1970 Z's. This can be verified in the Nissan microfiche.

Some owners when faced with replacing tie-rods but not wanting to replace steering knuckles and ball joints used a tapered reamer to enlarge the hole in the front of the steering knuckles to accept the later tie-rods.

Carl, I think I hear an echo!

[abas]

Not disputing what you found on your car, Andrew; but there are different tie-rod ends for 1970 Z's. This can be verified in the Nissan microfiche.

Some owners when faced with replacing tie-rods but not wanting to replace steering knuckles and ball joints used a tapered reamer to enlarge the hole in the front of the steering knuckles to accept the later tie-rods.

Carl/240zx

I am no authority on this and that is why I suggested Capt Mark should check his car. Not being the original owner of my car I can't vouch for it when it was new, but it did seem that the tie rod ball joints were the original nissan ones, that were as totally worn out as the bigger strut ball joints which were definitely the originals.

Andrew