Thread: QT diff guards and HD track rods

Here is a video of various QT gear being installed. Track rod and diff cover install is towards the end. Maybe it helps??

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy6dlOgdFR4]YouTube - ‪Fitting New QT Radius Arms and more.‬‏[/ame]

Hi lou, I'm all for a bit of underbody/ drivetrain protection, but bear in mind the fact that any force impacted upon a steering track rod that DOESN'T bend, will be transmitted upstream to the steering box and/ or tie rod ends, lowering their lifespan and in extreme cases ruining them. I agree having to straighten a track rod in the field is a pain, but imagine if you broke/ bent a pitman arm, or worse still the steering box etc.

I have standard track rods etc, and yes I have had to straighten them from time to time and fully expect to even replace them as they get hammered more, but that is my way of 'saving' upstream components.

Each to there own

(PS, won't be needing a front diff guard soon....)

JC

^the very reason I never upgraded to the stronger one,track rods are cheaper than steering box's. Pat

My justification for going the other way and fitting the HD track and steering arms was on the recommendation of my ex Land Rover engineer mate who worked on the Perenties.

When he heard I was buying a Defender he reckoned the first thing you do is upgrade the steering arms and upgrade the rear trailing arms.

When my 130 arrived the track rod had been straightened a few times already and one rear trailing arm was slightly banana'd.

He'd made his own for his 4BD1 110

I agree with you justin....about saving more expensive and akward parts....but track rods do bend so easily I would rather reduce the life of my track rod ends than have to straighten a track rod in the field if I was out on my own I'm not sure I could straighten a track rod.....thats if I could even get it off on the first place I dont believe they are easy


I dont believe I do anything extreme enough to destroy a steering box or pit arm but I do believe I could easily bend a track rod

Lou, I reckon any of us could do a Yuri Gellar on a stock Defender steering arm, even James Randi would be convinced

Lou
You have seen my steering rods,my originals bent when a tyre became slightly jammed against a rock,you dont need to even hit them.
As far as the diff guards are concerned,all you really need to protect is the front of the diff pumpkin,the type like in the video posted earlier,that go under the diff,just reduce clearance,again,have a look at the type I use,more than good enough and cheap.

Wayne
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wayne I already have QT diff guards front and rear

I just need to knoe what Mod is required to fit HD rods

and yes these diff guards do reduce clearance as someone was asking me on that trip can't remember who...I told them that day they reduce clearance...hence why I would like to go slightly bigger on the tyres just to get that clearance back..but they even though they reduce clearnace they are brillinat for sliding on and they can take a smacking I tell yeah I wouldn't change them I think they are good