Which way do you bend the cotter pins on a tie rod end and ball joints? I am wanting going to duplicate the way it came from the factory in the mid 70`s. thanks

Take photos before it all comes apart & then replicate what you found at each location.

No two will ever be exactly the same in every single detail.

The best picture of lower ball joint on a 1970 Challenger R/T. As Barry said not all the same. Although I don't think I would copy that one.
Bob

The ones on the car had been replaced at one time or another so pics wouldn`t have helped me on this car. Also the factory service manual says not to line up the slot on the tie rod adjusting sleeve with the clamp opening. Does it really matter?

I’m not home right now but have lots of original pictures I’ll try to post tomorrow. I can tell you they vary some.

Ok, thanks

Yes it really matters.

Does it reduce the clamping force?

You definitely need that "special" tool that I'm sure the workers used to get that "factory correct bend" in those pins.

Personally,worrying about how a cotter pin is bent is going a little far but that's just me !!

I found this. http://4doorcuda.com/blog/?p=1411

Most factory installations are "meat rippers", when the ends are bent and exposed they can draw blood. I prefer this way:

Very tidy, I like it.

Here is what you will find in 90% of original cars. I looked through dozens of front end pictures today and this is all I found and it makes perfect sense because it would be the quickest way to do the job.

Thanks for the research.

I heard a long time ago that the cotter pins were bent with a HAMMER....yep put them in and smack them with a hammer......next Can you think of any quicker way and less effort than that? '69 had 84,000+ Road Runners alone if each car had only ONE COTTER PIN to bend why would you waste time with any other tool or method?

To many variables for one correct answer, it depends on where the hole in the component ended up the position of the pin installer & whom he was the tool in his hand ETC ETC, for the most part they did what ever was quickest & whacked it over in the direction that was easiest at any given component/position & it wasn't supposed to look pretty, just do the same for your car.

the way john kunkel did it is very neat and tidy. id do it just like that.

The original question is how to do it like the factory. So the answer is quickly. Workers perform tasks differently so which way is correct? Follow Paul Jacobs photo here. Meat ripper is appropriate and dangerous.

They way John did it is ridiculously anal. And impossible. The top tang is hanging over the edge spindle nut, can’t do that on final assembly. But it does look tidy.

So, "correct" becomes "anal". Noted.

BTW, it's not impossible, I routinely do it on front suspension components that are the subject of this thread.