Started cleaning the OE steering gear on my May 71 Framingham built Supreme. I've done a few cars and replaced other OE steering linkage parts and never seen this before. At the center link attaching points, there is like a plastic concave washer that goes over the ball joints. There is also a beehive spring, and the remains of a boot. Is this really OE? Can you still get this style of linkage parts, or does all aftermarket parts have the conventional common boot over the studs? Hell I don't even know what I'm trying to explain - please help!!

 

I've never seen that before, Joe. Curious if the cotter pin hole will allow the cotter pin to go in.

 

Its not the centerlink, the tie rod end is whats different.

 

^^^THIS!

My speculation is that either 1) this "boot" came with an aftermarket tie rod end, or 2) the original rubber boot was destroyed while separating the tie rod end with a pickle fork and this is what the "mechanic" used to replace it. Is the other side the same? Keep in mind that the boots were not readily available without buying the whole tie rod end, so this may be a makeshift repair.

 

never have seen that, and i must have parted a 1000 a bodys over the decades..

 

I have seen two or three and always thought it was some cheap off brand tie rod or like Joe says some kind of "mechanic" repair. The ones I have found were hard plastic not rubbery like a typical tie rod boot.

 

Thanks for the responses.

Today I busted the tie rods loose from the drag link. As mentioned above, I now think this "end grease sealing system" was on the ball joints on the ends of the tie rods. I took these photos showing how it looked when first disassembled, after I remove the the plastic "base" and the spring. Finally is a photo of it reassembled to how it was when I pulled it apart after a quickie cleaning. I also included a photo of the marking on the backside of the inner tie rod. I assumed it is a Saginaw logo, but maybe it is something else? Anyway I have enough good pieces (two plastic retainers and beehive springs) to use on the inner tie rods - will use the traditional boots on the outer space unless any CO'ers have some of these pieces.

 

I have never seen a tie rod like that and for the life of me can't figure out what the function of the spring would be. Its a taper fit and any play would be in the socket and no spring would take up that slack.

 

Spring appears to serve to keep the plastic shield against the joint.

It looks like an overly complicated and less effective version of the std issue rubber booty to me.