doctorlv1 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 can any body help. my 1979 landrover on disco1 axles .the track rod bar witch is now behind the axle keeps breakin as it is cut and welded to go over the spings and under the springs.i wont to put a solid trackrod bar on but the leaf springs are in the way.can any body help.thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonk Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 does it go over or under the springs? you say it does both? is it breaking because it is hitting something? springs? or just through poor welding? pics would be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Another reason why I think that conversion is horrible, if not downright dangerous!! I've seen some horrible abominations done with bent track rods and all sorts to try and make it work. In short the safeest and least involved way to sort it is to make up some spacers to space the entire axle up away from the leaf springs, and then use longer U bolts to secure it. You can then use the standard rangie/disco track rod. Ok so you lose ground clearance, but otherwise I've never seen a truly safe, satisfactory way of doing it that doesnt compromise either safety, or the suspension geometry. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbarton Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Cut & welded track rods &c should fail the MOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Exactly! Welding steering gear or applying excessive heat to it is very naughty/dangerous. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 i will try to put pics on but im new to computers .but it wud be better to explain if i cud ring one ov yoyr guys .cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 the landrover woz rebult and modifide about 5 yrs ago and got all mots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Woodward Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Have a look at this thread, http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=12046 A couple of solutions and lots of pros and cons! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECCANO Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 My current solution 101 trackrod, that i had the main rod shortened professionally so that it wasnt weakened. Wasnt cheap to do though!!! 101 parts arent that common, and the steering track rod ends are usually rust to the tubes so that you cannot seperate them without damage How ever i believe a td5 defender track rods have a similar profile and would have been a cheaper option. Hind-sight is a wonderful thing yada yada...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonk Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 the landrover woz rebult and modifide about 5 yrs ago and got all mots just because its got mot doesn't necessarily mean its safe, the mot man doesn't always notice everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECCANO Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 just because its got mot doesn't necessarily mean its safe, the mot man doesn't always notice everything. I think it even use to say at the bottom of the MOT slip before the electromatronic versions- "This does not certify the vehicle is safe etc... ( or some get out clause to that effect)". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 could i put the track rod bar under the leaf spring .theres a good clearance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonk Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 i thought they were always close to runnin on the top. i'd be interested in seeing a pic of your setup to see the angle you have the axle at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 The bar would have to be a very interesting shape or you would have to do something really radical with the swivel housing (or the steering would be very interesting) If you had the bar under the springs it would put it very low down and subject to damage (it would in effect become the lowest part of the front of the truck). Above the springs is far better as it would be relatively protected. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jericho Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I did mine a while ago,with the axle rotated forwards enough so the trackrod clears the springs.Work ok. If I did it again,I would try the trackrod in front of the axle using a left hand drive swivel (or,I am told,a standard td5 swivel) on the starboard side,and join the trackrod and draglink together,as jeeps do. Meccano,show us the trackrod ENDS please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 wat do you mean rotatin your axle forword. how do you do that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 the axle looks straight but i need to turn about 3" so i can put a straight trackrod bar on that i bort tday .p.s the front axle looks like it cam off a landy 90 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonk Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 i'd suggest that your mounting feet have been welded on in the wrong place on your axle, to rotate the axle cut off the mounting feet and weld them on further round the axle tube. post a picture up of clearance issues and of diff pinion angles and we'll have a better idea on how to advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECCANO Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Meccano,show us the trackrod ENDS please. Its currently off so i will try and take some pics later/ this weekend!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 14, 2008 Author Share Posted March 14, 2008 i'd suggest that your mounting feet have been welded on in the wrong place on your axle, to rotate the axle cut off the mounting feet and weld them on further round the axle tube.post a picture up of clearance issues and of diff pinion angles and we'll have a better idea on how to advise. Hi some pics for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorlv1 Posted March 14, 2008 Author Share Posted March 14, 2008 Hi some pics for you as you can see by the photos that my track rod bar as been cut and re welded to go around the springs and under the springs, in one of the pictures you can see i have tried to put a straight bar but as you will see it will not fit either over the spring or under the spring, this is why the track rod bar has been modified cut and re welded any suggestions? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Thats horrible!!!!! I'm amazed that has passed an MOT. Can you post a picture that'll give us an idea what angle the diff is sat at as this will give the best clue. It looks as though the axle has been mounted with the diff nose set the same as on a series axle, whereas on a coiler it should sit at more of an angle IIRC. This may be part of your problem, but its hard to tell from the pics. In addition I'm concerned about your U bolts. They appear to simply be made from threaded studding bent around the axle tube. Studding is not normally high tensile, so unless you definately know otherwise I'd be inclined not to trust them! Cheers Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 That falls in the category of a scary steering!! What jon rightly pointed out.... change the u bolts, and tilt that diff and you should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I have to echo what the others have said - that is a very dangerous set-up you have there I'm afraid. The threaded bar has nothing like the tensile strength of the proper U-bolts. The people that passed your steering on the MOT should be prosecuted. If your steering breaks or the U-bolts snap - you could have a bad accident. There's a very good reason why welding or excessive heat is not permitted on steering gear. Not what you want to hear probably, but it is a bad alteration. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Christ Almity that is truely terrifying What exactly does your insurance compnay know about these mods ?......if they don't know and you have a prang you could well find yourself 'driving whilst uninsured' which is not the best thing to have nailed on you...the insurers are likley to find a way out of any payment, making you then personally liable . Frankly I wouldn't even think of driving that until you have a far safer solution - and the insurers happy Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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