Cheap (& nasty?) tie rod reinforcement

Both my track rod and drag link are sleeved with 3mm tube on my disco, all seems good and i havn't been able to bend them yet:angel:

If you can't afford upgraded ones i would just sleeve them if i were you.
It can get you into pretty dangerous situations when a weak as cheese steering arm bends on the side of a very steep hill or similar. we almost roled the county when the track rod bent on the way down a steep hill, it bent then took off up the bank, we had to be winch recovered otherwise the county might not be as straight as it is today:angel:

CHEERS TIM.

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Originally Posted by rovercare

Agree, I used to weld angle to all drag links and tie rods, and would still bend them occasionally, although FAR less often, ...............

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I'm still running one of yours, although it's been restraightened a few times it's still going

Stevo

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Originally Posted by long stroke

Both my track rod and drag link are sleeved with 3mm tube on my disco

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what did you do to fix them in place?

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Originally Posted by HangOver

what did you do to fix them in place?

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Welded....probably should have fixed them another way, aparently it's not good to weld to steering components but i've seen it done before without any issue's:)
I am going to get it engineered oneday, so it will be interesting to see how they go:angel:

Pics

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/06/293.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/06/294.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/06/291.jpg



CHEERS TIM.

FWIW the original ADF ones as supplied by JRA were OE ones with the threaded ends cut off and welded into larger diameter tube.

When a mate who was an ex-JRA Perentie engineer heard i was going to buy a Defender 9 years ago, he told me that should be the first mod to do, so i bought some Maxi ones.
He said the Poms wouldn't listen and refused to upgrade the OE rods, they couldn't see an issue, and just added that useless bit of channel under the front diff.

We used to weld angle to Jeep ones to stop flex and shimmy, and yes, i know welding steering components is illegal, but this was well over twenty years ago (when it was still illegal :D )

Another alternative is to slip a piece of steam pipe over the outside of the existing track rod. There is a size available that is an interference fit and it does the job well. A trip to your local steel merchant or scrap yard should find you the correct piece needed.
Cheers, Mick

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Originally Posted by long stroke

Welded....probably should have fixed them another way, aparently it's not good to weld to steering components but i've seen it done before without any issue's:)
I am going to get it engineered oneday, so it will be interesting to see how they go:angel:

Pics

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/06/293.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/06/294.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/06/291.jpg



CHEERS TIM.

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Qld. Transport are inflexible on this. The repair or modification of suspension or steering components by heating, bending, welding, or chrome plating is totally forbidden.

Why not just get a length of heavy wall 4140 tube, and drill and tap the ends to take your tie rod ends? The threads are 11/16" x 16 tpi UNS Left and right hand at opposing ends.

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Originally Posted by rick130

FWIW the original ADF ones as supplied by JRA were OE ones with the threaded ends cut off and welded into larger diameter tube.

When a mate who was an ex-JRA Perentie engineer heard i was going to buy a Defender 9 years ago, he told me that should be the first mod to do, so i bought some Maxi ones.
He said the Poms wouldn't listen and refused to upgrade the OE rods, they couldn't see an issue, and just added that useless bit of channel under the front diff.

We used to weld angle to Jeep ones to stop flex and shimmy, and yes, i know welding steering components is illegal, but this was well over twenty years ago (when it was still illegal :D )

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I wouldnt be surprised if my steering feel and stability improves with a stiffer rod, given how flexible it is at the moment with the slight bend it has.

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Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Qld. Transport are inflexible on this. The repair or modification of suspension or steering components by heating, bending, welding, or chrome plating is totally forbidden.

Why not just get a length of heavy wall 4140 tube, and drill and tap the ends to take your tie rod ends? The threads are 11/16" x 16 tpi UNS Left and right hand at opposing ends.

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That rules out angle reinforcement - I dont want to give the transport inspectors any excuse to put me off the road if I get pulled over.

Slipping some 7/8" ID steam pipe over the outside will be the easiest for me if its a light interference fit. I like your suggestion Brian, but I dont have the expertise or equipement. You'd probably find plenty of takers if you made some up! Would you need locknuts on the rod ends in lieu of the clamps?

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Originally Posted by mark2

That rules out angle reinforcement - I dont want to give the transport inspectors any excuse to put me off the road if I get pulled over.

Slipping some 7/8" ID steam pipe over the outside will be the easiest for me if its a light interference fit. I like your suggestion Brian, but I dont have the expertise or equipement. You'd probably find plenty of takers if you made some up! Would you need locknuts on the rod ends in lieu of the clamps?

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contact Mal. Leslie at S.G.Leslie & Sons, 19 Mologa Rd. West Heidelberg 3081 03 9459 2859. Mal makes these up. There are others but I don't know them or their work.