New FK Rod-Ends and Trip To WestEndAlignment!!!

[SRT Handz]

I am currently Running a UPR Bumpsteer Kit. After a while i developed "Play" in the Spherical Rod Ends on the bumpsteer kit. I needed to find a replacement because this play i could feel in the steering.

The most important part of any bumpsteer kit is the Rod End. Pretty much all bumpsteer kits are an Adaptor for the steering rack and a Spherical Tie Rod End. UPR Uses a POS 2 Piece Rod end that is from China. I had play even from being brand new. I called UPR and complained and told them how Shitty their Rod End was and they sent me the "ChroMoly Upgraded" tie-rod, But that one was still shitty and had play in the bushing itself.

so I knew i wanted to buy a real High Quality Rod-End that would make the steering feel very tight and precise. After ALOT of consulting on other forums I was pointed to Baker Performance Products... A SoCal Shop that specializes in Race Car parts... The kind of stuff they use in Formula-1, WRC, and NASCAR They are AMAZING people at this shop and have every rod ends ranging from $10 to $300. They helped me pick the right piece for my application!!!

http://www.bakerprecision.com/

I took my old Rod-End to them and ask what they would recommend for my Set-up. I told them the car is drive pretty hard on the street and does a few track and AutoX Events. Baker recommended that i got with a Higher end 3-Piece Rod End by FK, a company in the USA. These Rod-End are AMAZING. They are so tight you need a pole to move them around. The bushing were not cheap, costing almost $70 for the Pair. Once these Were installed steering feel was improved because of the quality of the Rod-End. This is a MUST HAVE upgrade for anyone with a UPR,Steeda,or MM bumpsteer Kit.

Specs - FK - JMX Series -3 Piece, Precision, Teflon Lined, Alloy Steel Body 5/8 Bore Size - $32.85 Each (2 Required)

LEFT = UPR Standard Rod End (China Junk)
MIDDLE = UPR ChroMoly 2 Piece (China Junk)
RIGHT = FK 3 piece Precision Rod End (USA Made - HIGHEST QUALITY)

ALIGNMENT TRIP TO WEST END ALIGNMENT!!!

Once I installed My Rod-End, I made and Appointment with the best Alignment Guy on the West Coast, Darin@WestEnd. People drive FAR to have their car aligned by Darin. He does AMAZING work and he is one of the only people i trust touching my car. Darin specializes in Race cars and cars with Modified suspensions. I made and appointment and was first car on the Rack @ 8AM!!!

I currently have an 03/04 Cobra Steering Rack. This REALLY improved the steering feel over stock. Its amazing. While checking the suspension prior to alignment, Darin discovered play in Left Inner Tie Rod. He could not start the alignment till the inner tie rock was changed on the left side. Luckily, a shop had the 03/04 Inner tie rod in stock and Darin had it Delivered!!! Darin installed the Inner Tie Rod VERY quickly and was able to keep my appointment!!! Darin then alignment the Bumpsteer, Toe, and the MM caster-camber Plates!!!

Results: The steering in the car is now PERFECT!!!! No bumpsteer, Tight and quick steering and AMAZING feel with the new FK Rod-Ends. I could not be Happier with the Results!!! Darin@WestEnd's alignment was so perfect the car feels just right!!!!

Up on The Rack @ WestEnd!!!

Old Inner Tie Rod Removed

Worn Inner Tie Rod on Bench before the trash can

The Worn ball on the Inside

New Inner Tie Rod Installed!!!

Thanks West End Alignment!!! You Guys Rock!!!

 

[CruizinKev]

good job man! love ur car looks like candy apple :thumbsup:

 

[OnyxCobra]

very nice, does it take anything special to do the inner tie rods? I have a bumpsteer kit to put on and I'm wondering if I should do the inner ones as well.

 

[Javi]

Very nice, i have the Unathorized reproduction products bump steer kit aswell and i might get a set of these to go along with my cobra rack and tubular k member..

shoot you a text Greg

 

[CruizinKev]

is it part # JMXT-10 ?

 

[SRT Handz]

is it part # JMXT-10 ?

Yes, that is the correct part number. Are you experiencing play in a rod end like i was?

 

[2slo95fiveoh]

very nice, does it take anything special to do the inner tie rods? I have a bumpsteer kit to put on and I'm wondering if I should do the inner ones as well.

No. A mustang is probably one of the easiest vehicles to change inner tie rod ends. Basic knowledge is about all you need....

 

[CruizinKev]

Yes, that is the correct part number. Are you experiencing play in a rod end like i was?

I also got that UPR kit waiting for install after winter and want to do it right from beginning ccasion14:

 

[JerZeyStangz]

Is the 03/04 Cobra inner tie rod a standard replacement for the sn95 steering rack, or you need to get it for the 03/04 cobra steering rack? I have a good amount of play in my steering, thinking about upgrading to new inner tie rod, and tie road ends...Let me know.

 

[SRT Handz]

Is the 03/04 Cobra inner tie rod a standard replacement for the sn95 steering rack, or you need to get it for the 03/04 cobra steering rack? I have a good amount of play in my steering, thinking about upgrading to new inner tie rod, and tie road ends...Let me know.

when i called for the part i told them it was for a 2003 Mustang cobra sop they gave me the Inner tie rod for that vehicle.

I also got that UPR kit waiting for install after winter and want to do it right from beginning ccasion14:

Yeah, if i were you i would call Baker and get those FK tire rods. WELL worth it!!!

 

[BLCKSTNG96]

i had play in mine too,then they gave me a brand new bumpsteer kit and when i got that one of the rod ends had play in it already.they have good customer service but i agree,the rod ends are shit.i'll prob be getting these too.

 

[vermilion]

what makes baker different from UPR/Steeda/MM?

 

[Orange Stang]

your GT is sechs on wheels man.... great stuff

 

[SRT Handz]

i had play in mine too,then they gave me a brand new bumpsteer kit and when i got that one of the rod ends had play in it already.they have good customer service but i agree,the rod ends are SH*T.i'll prob be getting these too.

This is EXACTLY what Happened to me!!! UPR sent me 3 sets of Rod ends (6 in total) and they ALL had play in them.

The reason I just went with the FK bushing is because I was afraid Steeda of the other Bumpsteer kits come with a Cheap bushing also. Baker said they sell the Cheap UPR style rod ends for $10 lol.

Baker was explaining to me how the Chinese Crap Rod Ends do not have proper tolerances and are not designed for precision jobs like steering. I feel that buying these rod ends was better than buying another kit from a different company.

Buy these FK Rod Ends from baker and then keep the rest of your Kit.

 

[lalcan8]

Once I installed My Rod-End, I made and Appointment with the best Alignment Guy on the West Coast, Darin@WestEnd. People drive FAR to have their car aligned by Darin. He does AMAZING work and he is one of the only people i trust touching my car.

I'm currently having alignment issues, and i will probably have to take a trip down here! Thanks for the suggestion :drunken_smilie:

 

[mustangman111]

paint is incredible

 

[Insayne]

Hey guys just a little bit of info on our steering. The rack and pinion housing is the same housing in 94-04. The internals are different. 03-04 cobra and mach 1 racks very nice replacements. A1 cardone re-manufactures racks and the part numbers are as follows: 03-04 cobra is a 22-2000 and a mach 1 is 22-238. Being that the boddies of the racks are the same the actual steering ratio stamp from ford may differ on the housing you get from what a stock mach or cobra rack would be stamped as but I have spoken to A1 cardone direct and they gather the rack cores in bulk and build so many of each ratio and put them in the market. So if you get a casting stamp of a gt or v6 but it is boxed as a cobra or mach and the re-man sticker on the rack matches the box label it is the steering ratio of that particular application(cobra or mach). My experience is that the cobra rack is quite scarce and there may only be one in your region depending on who you get it from. The mach rack on the other hand is cheaper and easier to come by for essentially the same rack.

Now as for inner and outer tie rods they also are the same for a 94-04 v6, gt, cobra, mustang period. being that I work at the Orielly's in Davis CA i have a few more part numbers for you. We carry Moog Problem solver chassis parts and a foreign cheap ass counter part. The Moog's are nice for a stock replacement as they are a little over sized and are grease-able. The part number for the inner is a EV117 and the outers are ES2150RL. The RL means its universal to either side.

I just recently put in my 03-04 re-manned cobra rack and Moog outer tie rods along with some MM solid rack bushings. I have very minimal bump steer and ZERO play in the steering. Every input into the rack is immediate. Even with the stock steering shaft. On a 16 year old car that's something ot brag about. I will how ever be buying a quality bump steer kit later down the road and installing the FK ends that handz has posted here. IMO that will be the ultimate rack tie rod combo. Only thing to upgrade from there would be the steering shaft. Hope this helps guys.

 

[OnyxCobra]

My steering has a little bit of play in it...

 

[Insayne]

Is yours a 03-04 rack? That's the only cobra rack that's any different. 03-04 cobra and mach racks. Otherwise v6 and gt racks are the same all through 94-04.