Tie rod 101
Jack up the front end and get it on jackstands, blocks, or piles of uberliberal fukktards, whatever you rest it on, try to keep it level and the wheels straight (this eliminates the uberliberal fukktards unless you are skilled
). Remove wheels and get a tape measure out. Whether you are going back with the inverted Y of the stock type or going with the much better T type of tie rod it's all the same, measure from the center of one tie rod stud to the center of the other. Write this number down. To remove old units, lube well with PB blaster and lightly tap the knuckle where the rod sits. Now remove the locknuts, reapply PB, tap again on both sides. Use the heaviest hammer you have UNDER the part of the knuckle where the rod is sitting, you want to press it against the outer edge as a backstop. Now use another hammer to waylay the stud sticking out. Even as thick as it is, the end of the knuckle where the tie rod sits will move if it is unsupported, not much, but enough to take away from the force you are applying to the rod itself. This is why you use the BFH as a backstop, not as the waylayer. Another option is to rent a tie rod puller, they are handy to get the pitman arm rod loose.
Once you have the old units out, lay the new out beside it and match everything to be the same length if you are doing a like for like replacement. If you are not, continue reading.
So you are going from the Y type to the T type, still no sweat. Go ahead and install the cross bar unit, DO NOT install the pitman arm unit just yet. With both ends in and secure, use the adjuster to match the measurement you took earlier as close as you can get it, at least within 1/8th. Now hold the pitman arm side up and adjust it until you can start the tie rod into the arm and it be straight. Remember to adjust the tie rod to the arm, try not to move the arm any more than you have to. Once you have it going in straight you can finish by putting the nut on an tightening it down. Now that you have that done make sure the tie rods are square with the knuckles, not canted fore or aft, and tighten up the adjusting link, same on the pitman link.
It's easy enough to do, just take your time and take good measurements.
