Thread: Cheap (& nasty?) tie rod reinforcement

Reasonably common. I think Long Stroke had some pics up.

When you say tie rod, you are talking about the track rod? across the rear of the diff? i had trouble bending my stock one, for a temp fix we got a peice of square tube(dont remember the size but messure the rod and go to your local metal supplier and messure the ID of the tube) and cut to length, then slipped it over the rod it was a tight fit and had to be tapped over with a hammer, this worked for me for quite some time before i upgraded to a proper heavy duty one we made.

You probobly cant do this with vehicles that run the steering damper on the track rod but you could always move this to the defender type position.

I often worry about strengthening some components.

The thought occurs to me that LR could easily and cheaply make them stronger. However, if they were made too strong, then some other associated, possible more expensive or more inaccessible component would become the weakest link.

Maybe that isn't a problem in this situation, but there must be some reason why LR makes then the way they are.

That may be the case in some instances, but i think you will find almost everyone on here who actually drives the harder stuff will have upgraded this already. And looking at the next weak link is the rod end, these are way stronger then the stock track rod. Vehicle makers will cut corners when ever they can(safely of course) to bring there final costs down and with the stock item which is garbage in my opinion but it is up to the task for most land rover owners.

I have had this fail in the bush, its certainly not much fun - i see no possible downside to upgrading this.

Originally Posted by cal415

When you say tie rod, you are talking about the track rod? across the rear of the diff? i had trouble bending my stock one, for a temp fix we got a peice of square tube(dont remember the size but messure the rod and go to your local metal supplier and messure the ID of the tube) and cut to length, then slipped it over the rod it was a tight fit and had to be tapped over with a hammer, this worked for me for quite some time before i upgraded to a proper heavy duty one we made.

You probobly cant do this with vehicles that run the steering damper on the track rod but you could always move this to the defender type position.

Yes - I mean the rod behind the diff, which links the steering arms.

ring S G Leslie and Son, in melbourne,
they make strong replacements, for a reasonable price, and better [in my humble opinion] than others.

No reason why you cant re-inforce a trackrod with damper at the rear, just need to remove the bracket and then weld back on to the new improved section.

Buy a heavy duty replacement as Harry suggests (humbly but wisely). I did so after bending two stockers on the Disco. I also moved the steering damper to the Defender location because it was rendered cactus as well.

Graeme Cooper (Sydney) and (LRA Melbourne) sell them.

At least in NSW the welding of steering components is forbidden by law.