Were the tie rod adjusting sleeves plated or were they a natural steel? I’m replacing the tie rods (inners and outers) as some are worn and would like to have the correct look to them. After degreasing then and soaking them in evaporust, it looks like the bolts were a black phosphate and the nuts, sleeves, and clamps were natural.

This is for my 69 RR.

Thanks

What I've found is that the sleeves are somewhat of a gray phosphate, clamps are natural, and the bolts and nuts to be a darker black phosphate. What I've found with phosphating parts my self is that depending on the alloy of steel some will get darker than others.

After phosphating parts I usually apply RPM wax. This darkens the color from gray to almost black.

First photo is unwaxed, second is waxed.

Thats the plan. I'm hoping to use RPM on all the bare metal stuff and the plated stuff to keep them all looking new.