Thread: QT diff guards and HD track rods

I have the QT quards fitted front and back as well as the HD steering rods.

There were no clearance issues that presented.

MtM

Originally Posted by justinc

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

Originally Posted by PAT303

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

Yea it's one of those enjoyable jobs like changing an axle or diff centre in the bush because they were "designed" to fail, haha

Replace the steering arms, they are rubbish, I've bent heaps of steerings arms until I welded angle to them, now upgraded arms, and funnily, I've never had a failure further upstream....

I fitted a QT rear diff guard and it fowled the "loneranger" 130L fuel tank with load in the rear or a full tank. A small bump and you hear it through the car.

Not sure if this is relevant to you?

Originally Posted by justinc

...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 think there is an assumption that stronger rods don't bend. They may bend just fine it's just that they return to their shape after bending. I guess this is called flex. Any metal property gurus around? I'm sure we could get to the bottom of this....

Originally Posted by inside

I think there is an assumption that stronger rods don't bend. They may bend just fine it's just that they return to their shape after bending. I guess this is called flex. Any metal property gurus around? I'm sure we could get to the bottom of this....

Not really.

There are 2 things - elastic deformation (bending that returns to original shape) and plastic deformation (bent and stays bent).

The replacement HD track rods are a larger diameter, so are therefore more resistant to BOTH plastic and elastic deformation.

I agree with Rick, an upgrade to the track rod and the trailing arms is a must.

The drag link I have however left standard, as they rarely bend.

I have never seen upgraded track rods lead to failures elsewhere.

Hi, Mr Pedantic here.Not everyone does it, but for those that do, could I just point out that these things are called steering rods, not steering arms?
Wagoo.

Originally Posted by wagoo

Hi, Mr Pedantic here.Not everyone does it, but for those that do, could I just point out that these things are called steering rods, not steering arms?
Wagoo.

Fair point Bill, I normally call them a 'tie rod' and 'drag link' but all these Land Rover/English terms have me confused

Originally Posted by rick130

Fair point Bill, I normally call them a 'tie rod' and 'drag link' but all these Land Rover/English terms have me confused

So I called it a rod and I'm english.....