Discovery track rod

Quick question:

I'm doing the front swivels on my old 1990 Disco and I've noticed that the track rod has a slight bend in it at the point where the steering damper is fixed. Is this correct or is it bent?

Cheers Julian.

Reply to
Julian
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It should be dead straight......... in theory.

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

Cheers, it's off to my mate with oxy/acet to warm and straighten it then.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

Before you decide to straighten it, think about the implications of what would happen if the now weakened component was to break.

Track rod ends are cheap.

David

Reply to
rads

"rads" wrote in message >>

I'm not convinced that taking a slight bow out of a mild steel tubular member will weaken it to any degree, also it's got to be much better than a bent one WRT it buckling under compression?

Maybe, but the item in question is the track rod, not the ends. Do new TRE's come with a new trackrod?

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

Oops.

Read TRE, not TR.

Carry on.

David

Reply to
rads

It is unlikely to be mild steel - it is probably a low alloy medium carbon steel with carefully planned heat treatment. JD

Reply to
JD

They can do - a complete track rod is about £70 though. The adjuster link, TRE's and tube with bracket are available sperately though.

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

On or around Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:57:21 +0100, beamendsltd enlightened us thusly:

I straightened a 110 rod once as a short-term fix - the new rod though is not all that pricey if the ends are good. dunno if a disco one is more, mind. The 110 one even including the ends wasn't silly money.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

OK, I'll let you know how I get on, you can have it if it won't straighten. I'm still on the last swivel at the moment, and work is going to get in the way for the next few days. (Grrrrr!!)

I may need new tie rod ends yet, they seem rather 'notchy,' so if I can't peel back the rubber and grease them then I'll swop them for new ones.

WRT the rod, It's such a slight bend that I'm thinking it will straighten if I stick it between two axle stands and sit on the bugger!

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

On or around Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:59:39 GMT, "Julian" enlightened us thusly:

nah, the only way to grease 'em is a grease nipple in the "back" side of the thing. if they have 'em.

mine had quite an impressive bend in it - I got it more-or-less straight by heating it red-hot and straightening it. If it's a *really* slight bend then I'd ignore it, myself... mind, you need to know why it bent - if it's been in a collision (most common cause) then the ends may be iffy. If it's been driven over a lump, then it's just the rod.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

It's very likely to be mild steel, actually. And in my experience that's the case - soft as cheese. In normal use the rod, even with partially seized rod ends sees little more that straightforward tension and compression - nothing 'sophisticated' is needed. Mild steel will do the job fine.

The buckling load is largely independent of the grade of steel and it is only once buckling has occurred that a 'better' grade will show any advantage.

Reply to
Dougal

I've got a good secondhand one if you want one

Dave

Reply to
Dave R

Cheers, where abouts are you? I'm near Warrington. I'll not know if I need one for a day or so, work commitments are stopping me from making progress.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

On or around Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:38:07 +0100, Dougal enlightened us thusly:

they don't machine like mild steel. and they're a bastard to straighten.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

I've only attacked old ones - they hacksawed easily. Straightening is an issue but that's a geometry problem rather than a material one, I think. It'll be a few years before I get a current production one to play with!

Reply to
Dougal

It's yours for nowt. I straightened it by placing it across some axle stands and thumping it with a lump hammer - dead easy!

Next I needed to replace the track rod ends because the old one were knackered, one was seized in the shaft so warmed it up with the propane torch and wound it out together with all the threads in the rod! (Grrr)

Beam Ends on Monday for a new one - they seem quite a good price.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

On or around Sun, 02 Jul 2006 10:46:43 GMT, "Julian" enlightened us thusly:

You coming to Malvern, or know anyone who is?

Reply to
Austin Shackles

Malvern? I'm guessing that this is an enthusiasts meeting? Sorry, I won't be attending, I know two enthusiasts with series LR's, they live close to me but I've never heard Malvern mentioned. But I'll keep the old rod for you just in case you are ever passing.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

On or around Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:09:15 GMT, "Julian" enlightened us thusly:

LRO show, Malvern show ground, august bank holiday weekend. last year, it was a nice show.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

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