Description
The half kit upgrades the outer half of your Bronco's steering to a 7/8" FK rod end and deliberately leaves the factory inner tie rod in place. That is the design, not a compromise — the stock inner shaft keeps load out of the steering rack and leaves a serviceable link in the system you can swap in the field.
CNC machined in-house at Foutz Motorsports in Mesa, Arizona from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum. Built specifically for the 2021 and newer Ford Bronco with the High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS 3.0) package, and designed around its 16mm stock inner tie rod shaft.
Half Kit or Full Kit — Which One You Want
Both approaches move the outer joint to a 7/8" FK rod end. The difference is what happens inboard of that.
A full billet kit
Replaces the entire tie rod assembly on both sides. It is the ultimate strength upgrade, and it is what most racers and hard chargers run.
This half kit
Keeps the factory inner tie rod, and there are real reasons to want that:
- Less load into the steering rack. The stock inner shaft limits what gets transmitted inboard, so the rack sees less.
- A serviceable link in the system. If something does get damaged out on a trail, the factory inner is the easier piece to change in the field.
- The stock tie rod boot stays on the rack. Nothing about the rack seal is disturbed.
- Quicker, easier install. This is a garage-floor job, not a shop job.
- High clearance when you need it. Keeping the stock inner section preserves clearance through the front end.
See the full range in Billet Tie Rod Kits.
What's in the Kit
- 2 billet half-length 16mm tie rod tubes with 7/8" FK rod ends at the wheel
- 1 hardware kit — 17-4 stainless steel high-misalignment spacers, Grade 8 bolts and lock nuts
Everything the kit needs to bolt up is in the box. Choose from four finishes: Raw Billet Aluminum, Black Anodized, FOX Orange Anodized and Blue Anodized.
The tie rod support sleeve is not included — it appears in some of the photos but is a separate part. See the panel below.
How It's Built
- 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum hex stock, CNC machined in-house to our own profile
- Machined flats so you have a real surface to get a wrench on and torque everything down secure
- 7/8" FK rod ends at the spindle for precise steering feel — rebuildable rather than throwaway
- 17-4 stainless steel high-misalignment spacers, custom made, so the joint cycles properly through suspension travel and will not corrode
- Grade 8 bolts and lock nuts
The profile is machined for clearance as well as strength, and designed around the HOSS 16mm stock inner tie rod shaft.
Fitment — HOSS 3.0 Broncos Only
Fits: 2021 and newer Ford Bronco equipped with the HOSS 3.0 package, using its 16mm stock inner tie rod shaft.
Does not fit: a standard Bronco with the regular tie rods. That truck uses a 14mm shaft and has its own kit.
Support sleeve compatibility
This kit works with the 16mm jam nut support sleeve only. It will not work with the 14mm sleeve used by the standard Bronco.
Not sure whether you have HOSS 3.0?
HOSS 3.0 is the top off-road suspension package — the one that comes with the internal-bypass shocks. If your Bronco does not have that package, you want the standard Bronco kit linked below.
Driving something else?
Installation
No rack work. The factory inner tie rod stays in the Bronco — you are replacing the outer half and bolting the new rod end to the spindle.
Measure before you take anything apart
Measure the assembled tie rod length before disassembly and write it down, then rebuild to that same measurement.
Do I need an alignment afterward?
We recommend getting an alignment after the install to be safe, even if you measured carefully.
Do the support sleeve at the same time
The outer tie rod is already off at this point, which is exactly what the support sleeve install requires. Doing both in one session saves you a second teardown.
Pair It With the Support Sleeve
The half kit deliberately keeps your factory inner tie rod. That is good for your rack — but the factory inner is still the factory inner, and it bends in one specific place: right where the threads stop and the shaft steps up into the main body.
The 16mm Bronco HOSS 3.0 Tie Rod Support Sleeve wraps that exact transition and braces it. Running the half kit and the sleeve together is how you get a fully sorted HOSS steering setup: upgraded outer, protected inner, rack still shielded.
Make sure you order the 16mm sleeve, not the 14mm. It is not included with this kit, and it is worth ordering at the same time — the teardown is the same teardown.
Common Questions
Should I buy the half kit or a full kit?
Full kit for maximum strength and racing or aggressive off-road use. Half kit if you want the outer rod end upgrade while keeping the factory inner to take load off the steering rack, keep a field-serviceable link, and make the install easier.
Will this work on a standard Bronco?
No. This kit is cut for the HOSS 3.0 16mm inner tie rod shaft. The standard Bronco kit is linked in the fitment panel above.
Which support sleeve do I need with this?
The 16mm one. The 14mm sleeve is for the standard Bronco and will not fit.
Can I install this at home?
Yes. It is a bolt-on at the spindle with no rack work. Get an alignment afterward.
Are the rod ends serviceable?
Yes. The 7/8" FK rod ends at the wheel are rebuildable and can be replaced on their own rather than replacing the whole tie rod — see our service parts.
There are no tie rod boots to service on a half kit. Your factory boot stays where it is on the rack. Our replacement tie rod boot kit is for the full billet tie rod kits, not this one.
How long does it take to ship?
In-stock items normally ship within 48 hours, with standard shipping 3–5 days after leaving our facility. Built-to-order items can take up to 4–6 weeks. We ship to the United States and Canada.