Michael2
14th November 2007, 09:08 PM
I was doing a recce the other day for an upcoming family camping trip, when my track rod had a dangerous liason with a rock:o. I heard the bang, but I initially thought that was just the bash plate. Then I got bogged in black mud (both difflocks on and no traction) and had to be pulled back 2 feet by a Toymotor (where's the shame emoticon?)
Anyway, as we drove off I noticed my steering wheel wasn't lining up. The result is seen below.
We removed the rod and one tie rod end (how convenient that the tie rod splitter was in the tool draw in the back). We used the Hi-Lift handle and slid it over the rod, then using the tow ball as a fulcrum (pressure against the ball so there was no sharp edge to kink it) we gently bent it back to shape. It's wasn't perfect, but it was straight enough to slide through the jack handle without catching on the edges. We reassembled it and proceeded with 4 hours of low range work, 15 river crossings, lots of climbing and then a 3 hour highway drive home. No vibration or wandering on the steering after that.
Anyway, the main points being that the jack handle and the tow ball enabled a good repair with no risk of kinking.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/168.jpg
Anyway, as we drove off I noticed my steering wheel wasn't lining up. The result is seen below.
We removed the rod and one tie rod end (how convenient that the tie rod splitter was in the tool draw in the back). We used the Hi-Lift handle and slid it over the rod, then using the tow ball as a fulcrum (pressure against the ball so there was no sharp edge to kink it) we gently bent it back to shape. It's wasn't perfect, but it was straight enough to slide through the jack handle without catching on the edges. We reassembled it and proceeded with 4 hours of low range work, 15 river crossings, lots of climbing and then a 3 hour highway drive home. No vibration or wandering on the steering after that.
Anyway, the main points being that the jack handle and the tow ball enabled a good repair with no risk of kinking.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/168.jpg