Ran into an issue with my 280zx the other day. I have been working on getting all the parts together to put a manual rack in the car (I hate the pitman arm/reticulated ball crap). I picked up the rack at pull-a-part and ordered new outer tie rod ends and boots. Problem is, the threads on the driver's side of the rack are reverse threaded (EDIT: LEFT-hand threads) and I can't find an outer tie rod that has threads to match. I've ordered two different ones now and neither are correct (one for a 280zx, and one for a 280z, both of which have conventional threads and fit the passenger's side only).
If anyone has run into this before and knows where I can find one of these, I would love to hear about it. Much appreciated.
Thanks!
Thats pretty unusual to have left hand threads on a rack. I'd wonder whether there is an issue with the inner you got- maybe its wrong. Was the one you took off left hand?
Yeah, the one coming off was left-handed. Apparently, lots of older racks were set up this way to make alignment adjustments easier, but part-way through the production run of the 280zx they switched to right-hand threads on both sides and now it's really hard to find any of the original left-hand thread tie rod ends.
Are the left and right inners identical except for the thread? Buy two right hand ones if thats the case.
Or, head for the Nissan dealer and order the correct one.
Yeah, I'm looking in to getting another right-hand thread inner tie rod. I think that's probably the best way to go. Thanks for the suggestion.
In case anyone else runs in to this issue, I finally tracked down a left-hand threaded tie rod end. It's from Moog suspension and is available through rock auto. It cost $27. Part number is ES2110R. It's actually for a 280z not a ZX so it's just a little bit shorter than the other side, but should come out fine with an alignment.
