Help! Aspire swap with Escort tie-rods

[Pocket_Rocket]

Hey guys, I just got my car back from the shop with the Aspire swap done, with brand new 1992 Escort tie-rod ends because people say they're the same as the Aspire ones and cheaper. Well I don't know why, but they don't work!!! The guys can't even align the car; there's way too much toe-in, and the tie-rods are screwed in all the way! They seem too long.
Did I miss something???

[skeeters_keeper]

I've used two different kinds of escort rod ends, no problems... both mine i just got for a 95 escort, maybe their different from the earlier outer ends?

[Pocket_Rocket]

I dunno; I read somewhere that somebody used 1992 Escort tie-rods, but didn't specify if you had to take the LX or GT ones. So I just bought some 1992 Escort ones, the parts guy didn't ask me if I wanted LX or GT tie-rods so I just took what he gave me. This trial-and-error deal is getting costly...

[fastivaca]

Did you put in the complete Escort tie rod? I'm pretty sure the intent is just use the Escort outer tie rod end on the Festiva inner.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Nope, just used the tie-rod ends.

[Festy46]

Take the rack boot off and make sure the inner tie rods haven't partially unscrewed out of the rack.

[Hot_Wheels]

i think there may be a diffrence between gt and lx lets check rockauto.com....

95 gt p# moog k8619
95 lx p# moog k8619
ok i guess it dont make a diffrence...hmmm.............

[elcamino1]

Is there a diffrence between 92 and 95?

[MONSOON]

I wouldnt think so. The 91 - 95 or 96 Escorts pretty much remained unchanged both physically and mechanically.

[muscle_Car1]

I've personally always asked for the 1992 ford escort gt. works for me.

[skeeters_keeper]

I think they should have worked, did you change anything else unusual? did you compare the length of the new outer rod ends to the length of the festiva ends? (off by 1/8 or so is normal, but that shouldn't affect the adjustable length).

Post a picture perhaps? Something isn't right, and I'm thinking its not the rod ends, unless the parts guy gave you the wrong ones.

[b8kedbeans]

My money is on what fastivaca said, the inner tie rod ends are wrong (somehow). I just finished my Aspire swap last week and had the same problem because I also upgraded to a power steering rack from an Apire. The tires were pointed outward until I swapped the festiva inner tie rods onto the Apire rack. I'm guessing that they put the escort inner and outter tie rod ends on your car and thus you dont have enough adjustment to line up the front.

Good luck and let us know how it works out!

[Pocket_Rocket]

I just provided the mechanic with tie-rod ends (outer) that I bought which were supposed to be for a '92 Escort, and he installed them. I have to go back today (wednesday) to pay the bill so I'll ask if he still has my stock tie-rods so I can compare them. Otherwise, it's the stock inners, with Aspire knuckles. I'll also count steering wheel turns lock-to-lock to see if something's wrong.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Well, I have the same turn count lock-to-lock, and check the tie-rods I bought at the parts store by part number, and are indeed the right part. But for some reason, they seem to be a 1/4 inch longer that Festiva rods. So my mechanic said he'll try to cut a little off so that they'll screw further and give me the adjustment I need. I'll see how it works.

[skeeters_keeper]

?!?
I have over an inch of extra threads on both sides of the inner rod ends, even with the escort ends that are about 1/8 to 1/4" longer than the stock ends... do you trust this mechanic? Something is fishy. Also, I'm pretty sure the inner rod will bottom out inside my outer rod end well before the outer end reaches the inside of the threads. I wouldn't let him cut a thing. Can you get a pic like I said before, so that we can do a little of our own diagnosing? Like I said, I would NOT trust this mechanic, and I wouldn't want to cut a rod end down, I like as much thread contact as possible.