Similar story. '78 Ranchero, swapped in a 351 Cleveland with some mods, was doing a bonzai run, about 120 through the country, came into town, slowed down to 30, and about a mile later, the left side outer tie rod just fell out of the ball socket. Worn out. It lurched left, I went across traffic into a parking lot. Pushed it back into the ball, tied a coat hanger around it, and got back to my shop where I could replace it. Had it done that about 10 miles earlier, probably wouldn't be a T-Man today. Proof that God is real!