yellow paint dribbles on tie rods?

    I am dismantling my front suspension and while cleaning the tie rods off I found something. In approximately the middle of both rods, there is a small "dribble" of yellow paint. It almost looks like someone with a very small brush took very thick paint and dripped it onto the rods - it is not a "stripe" or a "dab". I have not found any reference to this in detailing articles. I've tried to think of anywhere it may have dripped from, for instance the motor mounts which I think were dabbed with yellow. But I can't imagine any way that would be it unless the engine were suspended forward of its mounted position.


    I also noticed that one of the rods has a similar dribble of yellow paint nearer to the flat end, and I think the other one has a smear of red/orange toward its end. Considering how rusty my car is, I never expected to find paint markings. These yellow ones are very solidly adhering to the surface. I will take more care to look for such things as I progress!


    Lyle

    LOL, I take it PS wasn't an option. <img src=images/icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>


    Hey, I try to learn something new everyday. <img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


    Mark

    No power steering, GT trumpets, 8-track, etc. October '64 kar whose only option (besides "K" motor) was a console.


    Here is a close-up of the paint. The bar is dark and shiny because of a rust-converter I applied to it:

    [Blocked Image: http://hometown.aol.com/misterend/images/dribble1.jpg]


    And here is a photo that shows the position of that paint (right) and another faint bit of yellow paint (left). The measurement starts from the forward edge of the metal "disk".

    [Blocked Image: http://hometown.aol.com/misterend/images/2dribbles.jpg]


    Edited by - b9folk on 04/02/2007 17:25:43

    The images you show are strut rods, not tie rods. Yellow marks on side with raised rib are identified in Osborn assembly books.

    Strut rods - not sure why I got it wrong, maybe I was sleep deprived. Anyway thanks for correcting me.


    I'm wondering if the little dribble in the middle might have dripped down from the sway bar mounting bracket, since yellow was often used to show that nuts had been torqued. Both rods have that dribble.


    New level of detail: you have to account for "secondary splatter" as well as paint daubs, stripes, etc.


    Charles - you should make a photo book of details. It would be a big seller.


    Edited by - b9folk on 04/03/2007 07:13:29

    Also seen red crayon marks to denote tightening of bolts/nuts on the suspension. In this case, the yellow mark simply denotes which side the "rib" is on so the assembly line worker knows to point that section down when attaching to the control arm.


    With the new MCA website expected to launch in late summer, the club is planning to have a wiki area for information and pictures like this. It should become an invaluable resource to members.

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