Inverting a TRE???

OK, I'm still up kinda up in the air about the Heim vs TRE, but leaning heavily towards the TRE with drag link on the double hole knuckle set up.
The only advantage I can see with the Heims (and some fab work...) is that I can put the Heim over the knuckle to decrease the tie rod angle from the bellcrank, whereas the TRE goes under the knuckle.

Now, that's not that big of a deal, as my tie rod is only at about 6~8 degrees from flat anyway. (Rancho 0~1" lift springs....)

But still, it would be great if I could put that tie rod end at the knuckle on top and get the angle practically down to zero. But that is where it gets sticky, with the tapered hole and all.

So the question....I know it's possible, but is it impractical or too dangerous to ream that hole out to 5/8", and make an internally-tapered steel insert so I can flip the TRE? The insert would be 5/8" OD with a conical internal hole to match the TRE. There would be a thin kerf cut longways to allow the TRE to "wedge" the insert into the hole tightly when tightened down.

Thoughts? Criticisms? Kudos?

TIA!

 

I like to keep things simple........
use the TREs in the stock configuration and be done with it
but....if you insist on the other.....
someone makes what you're looking for
can't recall the company name or thread where located

 

i like hiems, they where simple and easy to install, drill the hole out to 5/8, got a combo hiem 3/4 shank 5/8 hole made a tie rod and was done. it was simple and cheap worked really well, till i could fab up a high claerance for the kin-pin caps on the model 25. i always carried two hiems as spares, so if i ever found a way to break one then i would have spares, i would go hiem but thats just me, jason.

 

Hey Bill,

The website you're looking for is:
http://www.goferitoffroad.com/products.htm

I did the "tie-rod flip" using the inserts purchased from that website. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of the finished product. It was a really simple conversion, I think the whole project took about an hour.

You just drill out the holes, drop in the inserts, zap'm with a tack weld (or JB weld), then put the whole thing back together, adjust the rods for steering, and you're off to the races .

Off hand, I can't really comment about how the angle of the rods improved my steering, I've got so much slop in my factory Ross-box that I didn't notice any change at all.

Allan

 

I bought the GoFerit insert when I did my 2 hole install, unfortunately, the dimentions on it interfered with the TRE when installed so I just used the insert as a patern and turned out one with a thinner flange and a slightly narrowed taper to raise the TRE up enough to clear. $.02

 

Possible dumb question: What was interfering?

Do you have any pics of your steering....2 hole set-up? I am getting ready to do the 2 hole and was looking at inverting the tie rod and drag link.

Thanks