Thread: Bent Steering Track Rod

I believe metal once bent has a tendacy to bend more as its softer, or something like that. Don't know the physics.
Britpart ?? I think, do a good steering arm & track rod set, very heavy duty.
Can't rememebr how much they are though. They come complete with ball joints too. Available from Rovacraft.

when the track rod gets a bend in it, it tends to point the front of both wheels outwards.
it usually doesn't take much of a bend to do this. i did mine a few years back. both wheels were pointing out and it felt like i was driving with a flat tyre.
i replaced it with a maxidrive HD track rod.
BTW - all it took to bend the original was one tyre was in a deep rut with hard sides and the other clipped a big rock. no metal contact or anything like that, just huge forces on the two front wheel.

These fail regularly - as mentioned don't straighten & reuse.

I don't know of anyone with an imported rod. The local Maxidrive item is fit & forget, highly recommended. Availability now, I don't know.

Most Defenders have a track rod protection bracket thingy bolted to the diff. I don't know whether these are on the Puma, or deleted in this spec. Have a a squiz at the front diff, there's probably two bolt holes where it should be.

Regards
Max P

HI Peter, I straightened my bent track rod ,some years ago, with a jack by loosening the tie rod ends and rotating the rod down and jacking the rod up against the weight of the car.I replaced it with a heavy duty version from Graeme Cooper Automotive and had no further trouble.Cheers,130man.

Originally Posted by Tusker

These fail regularly - as mentioned don't straighten & reuse.

I don't know of anyone with an imported rod. The local Maxidrive item is fit & forget, highly recommended. Availability now, I don't know.

Most Defenders have a track rod protection bracket thingy bolted to the diff. I don't know whether these are on the Puma, or deleted in this spec. Have a a squiz at the front diff, there's probably two bolt holes where it should be.

Regards
Max P

max, does the bracket still fit with a havy duty rod..........

I have bought the Brit Parts Heavy Duty item and will get it fitter up here tomorrow.

Originally Posted by weeds

max, does the bracket still fit with a havy duty rod..........

Yep. Plenty of room.

I don't think it moves perfectly horizontally, but rather suspect it moves around a tad as the tie rod ends move up & down with hub castor.

Regards
Max P

Originally Posted by Peter 640

Team

I managed to collect a large immovable rock yestrday on a fairly steep track. On inspectin I have put a nice bend in the steering tracking rod so the steerig is centred when the steering wheel is now rotated thru about 40 degrees. The car is driving fine and steering norally.

I can buy a heavy duty rod form Famous Four in the UK as I have family coming out in the next few days so they can bring with them. Part is here ... Famous Four - Part Information for FF003477

Three questions ... 1, is there any un forseen risk in driving with the rod bent? (I am away at present on a trip), 2, has any one fitted a heavy duty famous four replacement part and is it a good item?, 3, how hard is this rod to re fit?

Peter

FYI- sounds like you bent the DRAG link this comes off the steering box to hub(giving you the adjusted steering wheel rotation), where the TRACK rod goes between both hubs keeping both wheels pointing in the same direction "the TRACK"