Wa02ger Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Afternoon all, Just a quick post to see if anyone has any views on the quality of the Flatdog steering guards. I'm not going to be doing any major off roading, maybe the odd track in Derbyshire a couple of times a year. The Flatdog guards are £150.00 and look very good when fitted. The other bit I'm not sure of other that the quality is that there are no recovery eyes built in, should I consider recovery eyes or not? Thanks, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boydie Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I personally wouldn't tow or drag a LR out of mire or deep sand with the sump/steering guard. Use the correct locations on the end of the chassis rails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 The FD one doesn't appear to have recovery holes, so no, don't use it for that. There are others that incorporate recovery points, often using almost 10mm side plates, bolted directly to the chassis, these are more than suitable I would say. E.g. http://www.paddockspares.com/pm610-steering-guard-galvanised-steel-with-hi-lift-jacking-points-and-towing-rings.html Note, that isn't a recommendation, just an example! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 My own take is that you won't need one. If you want one for aesthetic reasons go for it, but for the odd lane there is no need. I think a search might bring up various thoughts on it, but .... ......looking where you are going and reading the ground should be enough ...... You can get hung up on things with them and in mud they can cause problems ...... They don't protect your steering bars from damage caused by impacts on the wheels. For myself I'd go down the HD steering bars route instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I'd agree they do little for the actual bars, but they do at least prevent the steering box/arm getting smashed up. I would run HD bars even with a steering guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Although I broke a steering box through an impact on the wheel - but I expect thats very unlikely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat_pending Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Personally I'd never fit HD steering bars on a road going Land Rover. Standard steering bars bend for a reason, as they absorb some of the impact that otherwise goes into the track rod ends or the steering box. I'd rather a bent rod than a sheared track rod end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wa02ger Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Excellent, thank you all for your wise words and advice. What does anyone think one the quality of the Flatdog products? Thanks again, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Personally I'd never fit HD steering bars on a road going Land Rover. Standard steering bars bend for a reason, as they absorb some of the impact that otherwise goes into the track rod ends or the steering box. I'd rather a bent rod than a sheared track rod end. Either would make the steering unusable so what's the difference? I've fitted HD steering bars to most of my land rovers over the years and never experienced a sheared track rod end, has anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Nope, not me, though have seen it happen, ironically on a trialler, with standard bars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 When I broke my steering box it was with standard bars - the front wheel slid into a rock and the force must have been precisely in line with the drag link to travel up it and break the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat_pending Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Either would make the steering unusable so what's the difference? I've fitted HD steering bars to most of my land rovers over the years and never experienced a sheared track rod end, has anyone? You could still keep moving with a bent rod, or pull it straight as a "get you home" if it was that bad, better than being stuck in the wilderness with a broken track rod end. A bent rod also lets you know the steering's sustained an impact. Just my opinion mind. I also don't believe Land Rover made them springy and bendy so they could sell more spares. I saw a bent drag link end on a HD bar equipped "challenge" truck at Peterborough LRO one year, it just made me think how much impact had been put into it. Maybe I'm over cautious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 The HD trackrod didn't survive when a Vauxhall astra smashed up the front of my 110... There again the front axle cas, radius arms and wheel didn't either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Excellent, thank you all for your wise words and advice. What does anyone think one the quality of the Flatdog products? Thanks again, Matt I'm sure there will be someone along to answer your question soon Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I just bolted a Shire Fabrication guard to my Puma, good value @ £99 Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat_pending Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I'm sure there will be someone along to answer your question soon Matt Sorry, I got sidetracked. I meant to add, the Flatdog ones look similar to the ones paddocks sell, I doubt either company make them themselves so it's possible they originate from the same factory. Flatdog stuff seems ok if a little overpriced. The paddock ones are cheaper and have recovery eyes, they're very well made, I've had a couple, the one on my 110 has taken a few bashes without damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wa02ger Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 That's great, thanks for the advice Pat_pending. Happyoldgit I have now learnt a lot about track rod ends, Steering boxes and steering arms ?. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge ??. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 Personally I'd never fit HD steering bars on a road going Land Rover. Standard steering bars bend for a reason, as they absorb some of the impact that otherwise goes into the track rod ends or the steering box. I'd rather a bent rod than a sheared track rod end. So I wonder why JRA fitted a HD tie rod and drag link to the Perentie for the Australian Army way back in the eighties ? Or Nissan upgraded the tie rod and drag link on the GU Patrol to around 32mm, including female tie rod ends in around 2002 ? or.... It's just typical Land Rover under engineering. My mate that was an engineer on the Oz army Perentie used words like 'joke' 'pathetic' and 'spaghetti' to describe the standard steering components, and he used some choice words for the aluminium channel under the diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easytiger Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I'm sure there will be someone along to answer your question soon Matt Have you looked at the Mantec one. I also think that while Flatdog gear all seems OK they can be a bit expensive at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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