Adjustable tie rod assembly

An adjustable tie rod assembly for a steering linkage system having a relay rod that swings back and forth laterally comprising;

• a tie rod having a ball joint at each end for connecting the adjustable tie rod assembly in the steering linkage system of an automotive vehicle,
• the tie rod having a threaded end and a cylindrical head at the other end,
• the threaded end being screwed into an internally threaded portion of the ball joint at one end of the tie rod,
• the threaded end of the tie rod having a jam nut that is tightened against the ball joint to maintain the depth of the threaded end of the tie rod in the internally threaded portion of the ball joint,
• the cylindrical head of the tie rod being rotatably fit and axially captured in a cylindrical bore of the ball joint at the opposite end of the tie rod, and
• the tie rod having an intermediate portion for rotating the tie rod with respect to the ball joints at each end whereby the length of the tie rod assembly can be adjusted while it is connected in the steering linkage system by rotating the tie rod with respect to the ball joints at each end when the jam nut is loosened.

In a steering linkage system of an automotive vehicle having a relay rod that swings back and forth laterally in response to steering inputs and an adjustable tie rod assembly including a tie rod having a ball joint at each end for connecting the tie rod assembly to the relay rod and another member of the steering linkage system, the tie rod having a threaded end that is screwed into an internally threaded portion of one of the ball joints, the threaded end of the tie rod having a jam nut that is tightened against the ball joint to maintain the depth of the threaded end of the tie rod in the internally threaded portion of the ball joint,

• the combination comprising:
• the tie rod having a cylindrical head at an opposite end, and
• the ball joint at the opposite end of the tie rod having a cylindrical bore,
• the cylindrical head of the tie rod being rotatably fit and axially captured in the cylindrical bore of the ball joint at the opposite end of the tie rod, to provide a spin joint that operates independently of the ball joint at the opposite end of the tie rod whereby the length of the tie rod assembly can be adjusted while it is connected in the steering linkage system by rotating the tie rod with respect to the ball joints at each end when the jam nut is loosened.