terraflex tie rods and drag links. are wheel spacers needed?

[nixit]

hello all,
not really a jeep modder, love what you guys do to them, I just drive stock jeeps, currently 2020 gladiator.
while investing the death wobble, the local 4x4 shop put in their gladiator suspension kit which consists of terraflex tie rods and new drag links.

beyond that I am unaware of what parts and what not.

the question I have is, the shop is now telling me I need 1.75" wheel spacers or the terraflex tie rods will rub the oem 17" wheels I have and cause more damage.

from what I've seen online (again, not a car enthusiast), the terraflex will work with stock oem 17" wheels.

I'm not sure what's true, and if I need to spend the extra $$$ on wheel spacers that I may not need.

I would love some insight and clarification on this, as I feel the 4x4 shop is not being completely honest since this is the 3rd time I've had to "go back and get something else fixed" after seeing them.

I prefer not to push my wheels/tires out 1.75", and avoid spacers if possible.

thanx

cheers,
--nixit

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[PuddleJumper]

hello all,
not really a jeep modder, love what you guys do to them, I just drive stock jeeps, currently 2020 gladiator.
while investing the death wobble, the local 4x4 shop put in their gladiator suspension kit which consists of terraflex tie rods and new drag links.

beyond that I am unaware of what parts and what not.

the question I have is, the shop is now telling me I need 1.75" wheel spacers or the terraflex tie rods will rub the oem 17" wheels I have and cause more damage.

from what I've seen online (again, not a car enthusiast), the terraflex will work with stock oem 17" wheels.

I'm not sure what's true, and if I need to spend the extra $$$ on wheel spacers that I may not need.

I would love some insight and clarification on this, as I feel the 4x4 shop is not being completely honest since this is the 3rd time I've had to "go back and get something else fixed" after seeing them.

I prefer not to push my wheels/tires out 1.75", and avoid spacers if possible.

thanx

cheers,
--nixit

https://teraflex.com/amfile/file/download/file/730/product/22731/

https://teraflex.com/amfile/file/download/file/738/product/23529/

the only fitment issue Teraflex states is with aftermarket brakes

 

[kevman65]

Okay, let's straighten this up a bit.

You didn't get a suspension kit, you got a steering kit. The tie-rod bar and drag link bar control your front wheels and the direction they go.
As long as they installed these items correctly, you have no need for wheel spacers.

You need to find a different shop that's not going to try and take advantage of you just because you don't have the knowledge to work on your vehicle.

 

[fourfa]

Some of the aftermarket tie rod ends are too fat to fit the factory wheels. Can be on both ends of the tie rod and the axle side of the track bar. So it’s not a dumb question. I haven’t seen the TF units or read about them, but the OP has and is looking for firsthand experience. Hope that gets us all caught up on the question here….

personally I’d put the front axle on jack stands, run the steering all the way both ways while looking for interference with the inner rim edge. Should clear things up.

 

[kevman65]

Some of the aftermarket tie rod ends are too fat to fit the factory wheels. Can be on both ends of the tie rod and the axle side of the track bar. So it’s not a dumb question. I haven’t seen the TF units or read about them, but the OP has and is looking for firsthand experience. Hope that gets us all caught up on the question here….

personally I’d put the front axle on jack stands, run the steering all the way both ways while looking for interference with the inner rim edge. Should clear things up.

If you go read Tera-Flex's install instructions, there is no interference unless you're running a big brake kit.

It's kind of obvious they're trying to make as much as possible off of someone who admits they don't know anything about working on vehicles.

 

[Silverator]

The Currie tie rod I just had put on did rub. Wasn't supposed to, but it did. Easy to tell. You'll "feel" / hear it. Or just look at the inner lip of the wheel after full lock turning. It will be obvious and it will happen quickly. I personally don't like spacers - and that little miscalculation cost me a couple grand on new wheels. I knew from the onset that I was rolling the dice, and unfortunately - came up short. But again, you'll know EASILY. Just drive it.

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