Steering arm question (re-reaming?)

I have a set of superbell dropped steering arms. With the location of my wishbones and frame, they'll fit great if I can run the tie rod on the top. Problem is, they're reamed from the bottom. I've heard that some aftermarket steering arms are reamed from both sides...

Should i find a different set of arms?

Can I ream the top half of my steering arms? Would that leave enough solid contact area for a strong link?

Thanks!

 

you can ream them from the top side halfway, it will be fine

 

Thats how I ran mine fits great and I think it looks cleaner with the nuts on bottom.

 

X 2, Or you can drill out larger and weld in a tapered adaptor

 

I did a halfway ream and it's been working fine for years. No welding required.

 

Thanks for the input guys. With the light front end load on this rig I think I'll just do an upper half re ream. Anyone have a good source for a reamer? Saw speedways but a cheaper option would be nice...

Thanks again.

 

That's how I did mine.

 

Chris
Do the reaming, then when you reverse the end, Dorman makes nice little cone shaped washers that will take up the "slack", if you're concerned about it.

 

there is always lots of taper area on a tie rod end you may be able to ream more than half way . the end will sink into the arm a little further but i little more insurance, just make sure you dont run out of thread for castlated nut.

 

oh ...snap on sells and they good for life. i think i have paid for mine in beer recieved for lending it out.

 

I agree, its worked for me many times, I only mentioned the weld in adaptor if the OP had any concerns.

 

When you torque down the castle nut it will jam the tie rod end into the newly tapered upper section and never move. The 7 degree reamer Speedway sells is not real cheap, but it will last you forever.

Don

 

Forged spindles and steering arms, no? I cut mine off and flipped it over and welded it back solid. Granted, it was late on a saturday night and it had to be done right then, so I didn't have the time luxury. Funny thing is, mine was reamed from the top, and I needed it to go into the bottom to clear the wishbone.

Mike

 

Thanks for the input guys - even got a PM offering a loaner tool. What a great website and a great bunch of people. Thanks again...