Inner Tie Rod Manufacturer

woodycaldercloggs · Post by **woodycaldercloggs** » 09 Apr 2018, 02:13

I live in a remote part of France and have a 1998 Volvo v70 which needs inner tie rods replaced.
My nearest wheel alignment center is a 50 mile drive away so I feel that I need to get my alignment pretty close to OK for that drive.
I noticed that different manufacturers of inner tie rods make them different lengths (there is as much as 50 mm difference).

Is there any easy way without dismantling the tie rod assembly of telling what manufacturer my current inner tie rod is or what its length is so that I can order the same - as this would make the re-assembly easier ?

and

I have bought new Lemforder outer tie rods - so is it better to use Lemforder inner tie rods also ?

SvenGWK · Post by **SvenGWK** » 09 Apr 2018, 11:40

Hello, I have exactly the same problem. (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=84985)
I suspect that the 98 V70 has the same "chaos" as the C70 of this year...
The C70 uses different steering racks, SMI and TRW.
First you have to find out which steering rack is installed. If it is still the original, you can read the type on the plate in the engine bay. (Identify steering rack type from data plate).

I spoke to a dealer today about the length of the tie rods. He couldn't explain it either. In his opinion, the different data could be related to different measurements.
For example, one manufacturer specifies the length including the axial joint, the other without. That could explain the big differences.
The smaller differences in the mm range can actually exist, but are unproblematic, since the thread is screwed into the tie rod end. There is enough space to more or less compensate for a few mm.
Which tie rod ends you buy you have to decide for yourself. Remember that right and left are different (unlike the tie rods).
The material should not be too cheap. A Febi Bilstein tie rod only lasted 9000 km for me.

You usually don't do anything wrong with Lemfoerder. That's good quality.

Post by **misha** » 09 Apr 2018, 14:16

Lemforder,Delphi,Febi,Meyle HD,Trw,Moog(Federal Mogul) are at the top of the range about suspension parts.

Post by **FLXC90** » 09 Apr 2018, 14:44

See the data plate information if your car has all those numbers. Both my 98 S70 and 98 V70 were early enough in the production year that they don't have that last digit. Cars with the shorter number are TRW rack from the factory. The character was added to differentiate once SMI was added as a supplier. But again, this is only if the original rack is still installed (Most likely)

woodycaldercloggs · Post by **woodycaldercloggs** » 09 Apr 2018, 23:48

Hi,
sounds like you have been through the same process.
I know mine is an SMI rack but the inner tie rods for SMI are shown as different lengths also.

Another question - did you use a special tool to remove and insert the inner tie rod ?
If you did - can you recommend one ?

and what torque did you use to tighten it ?

Post by **jreed** » 10 Apr 2018, 05:14

I have a '97 850, so my experience may not apply to your '98 V70, but I had good luck using Volvo OEM inner tie rods. I wrote up a short DIY guide here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58194#top

Post by **FLXC90** » 10 Apr 2018, 05:28

I just used a pipe wrench to remove the old, I didn't really torque the new one, just tightened according to how big they are. Mine are all TRW so I haven't had to play the sizing game. Good luck!

Post by **abscate** » 11 Apr 2018, 08:46

You can align them to 0 toe in with curtain rod or dowel , then drive at 70-80kph to your alignment shop ok.

Post by **j-dawg** » 12 Apr 2018, 00:25

viewtopic.php?t=70349
viewtopic.php?t=28454

The first guide, which I wrote, will get you good enough to drive to the alignment shop. The second will probably get you a good alignment.

Post by **j-dawg** » 12 Apr 2018, 00:31

Also, for what it's worth, a few weeks after that post I got an actual alignment done and found that I wasn't really all that close to spec. But it was close enough to not destroy my tires.