community tie rod end reamer, is there a demand?

by **v7guy** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:32 am

I have some HD 2500 tie rod ends on the way. I've been looking at the options to ream the tie rod end hole on the spindle. Is there a real demand where I could sell this bit for 10$ less and we just pass it around?
Or maybe we could do a "spend what you can" for the bit situation?

The bit is $80, it's not cheap. But if we can work something out where a half dozen of us use it and end up paying a small amount individually it would be cool.

For example, I buy it for 80, the next guy gives $70, the next $60, the next $50... or something in that fashion.

I'm open to all suggestions and thoughts.

by **navigator** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:45 am

I doubt I would be interested unless my inner tie rod breaks! I am in a different situation than many because I could afford for my TB to be down a few days in most instances while I waited for something to come in the mail.

I'll have to say the thought crossed my mind though when Donny was looking for one.
I wonder how many you could do before it lost it's effectiveness? If memory serves me that part is caste, or not a real hard metal, I bet you could do 10 or so before it started losing it's bite.

by **The Roadie** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:15 pm

I'd be in for that. Gotta buy some steering knuckles anyway. Might as well have one set of each kind.

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:39 am

I could be convinced

by **v7guy** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:51 am

alright, so it looks like a couple of us could use it. I'll go ahead and pick it up.
Like Chris mentioned I would imagine we could get at least 10 pair done with one bit. I've never had any issues drilling cast stuff since it is pretty soft.

Is the taper 7deg on the tie rod ends?
If nobody knows for sure I can measure it Wed when my parts get here.

by **fishsticks** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:53 am

Yep, 7 degree.

by **v7guy** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:07 am

Thanks Donny, I appreciate it.
The bit is on it's way to my place!

by **chevycrew** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:08 am

You could do each person that uses it sends $10 to the original purchaser.

by **v7guy** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:15 am

chevycrew wrote:You could do each person that uses it sends $10 to the original purchaser.

I think I like that even better than my original proposal. Keeps the costs low for everyone and more of us could justify doing this mod.

Which do you guys like better? $10 to the original purchaser for each use or a decreasing price each use?

Once 7 guys have used it I don't want anyone sending me any money.

by **janesy86** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:30 am

I could be in for it as well I'm thinking. Not sure when I'll want to get to it, so it would prob be spring time when I'd be in. I think either way for paying is fine for me, but may get get the guys quciker if its just $10 a head up front instead of waitng for someone to buy it off the next... IDK.

by **v7guy** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:02 am

Alright guys, I've got the reamer sitting here. Ive just finished installing the 2500 TREs.
You're going to need a half inch drill to use it.
The whole process takes about a minute a side. When you ream the knuckle you can tell real easy when you've adjusted the angle just by looking at it (drill briefly, check, drill briefly, check). The reamer removes a lot of material very easily so be advised. You could open it up too far very easily and very quickly.
I would imagine we are going to get more than 10 uses out of this.

I can get $10 through paypal... v7guy at hotmail dot com. I'll post when I get payment and once we reach seven people that paid we can just mail it around.

I reckon we can just post up who has it in this thread so people know who to contact.

Hopefully we get a lot of use out of this.

by **v7guy** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:18 am

So the reamer has moved on to HARDTRAILZ.
If anyone is interested in doing this mod kick $10 to me at v7guy at hotmail dot com and we'll keep it moving. HARDTRAILZ mentioned that you would get the quickest response by contacting him through GMTNation.

When you send money make sure you include your user name so we can keep this list updated as to who has it.

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:35 am

I got the tie rods in the garage. I can be reached here just not as easy as gmt during day.

Thanks V7

by **v7guy** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:45 am

HARDTRAILZ wrote:I got the tie rods in the garage. I can be reached here just not as easy as gmt during day.

Thanks V7

No problem, hope this gets us all on board. Gave it to the misses the other day to send out. You're looking for a cigar box...no stickers for penis pumps. :mrgreen:

Everyone keep in mind you need a .5" drill for this.

by **Nakashige** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:13 am

Has anyone tried any of the aftermarket tie rods for a 2500

by **Nakashige** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:15 am

http://go.ffrfabrication.com/Tie_Rods.php

by **v7guy** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:36 am

There's only a couple of us that have done the "normal" swap. The ad says they are stock replacements so it would appear you could use those.

by **hotness** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:00 pm

I Just thought I would update this thread with some new found information. Regulator got the bit from hardtrailz and we drilled out and installed the TREs on his 02 Envoy. Then we were going to do my 05 trailblazer and hatchets 03 trailblazer. When we got the stock tie rods off we stuck the 2500 TRE in the knuckle to see how far we were going to have to ream out and to our surprise our knuckles were already the size of the 2500 TREs. I dont know if the 2002 knuckles are different and every year after that is the new size but I thought I would update with our findings. If your thinking of doing this mod pop off your tie rod end and slide the new one in first, if its newer than 02 I can bet it will go right in with no modifications.

by **navigator** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:03 pm

do the OEM and 2500 TRE's have the same taper for a nice tight fit?

by **hotness** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:14 pm

Ours did we checked the 2500 against our stock and they are exactly the same degree. Went in nice and tight. Got an alignment and been driving with them ever since.

Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys