18 replies to this topic

[ABZSupercooper]

Tonight I was driving along and on slowing down from c40mph heard a loud bang then the car veered to the side , pulled over and found my offside tie rod had come free with nut bush and washer gone! Thread stil dirty to the end so don’t think it backed off , simply seems to have failed catastrophicly! Has anyone seen this before, could have been nasty !

[nicklouse]

often when the wrong bolt is fitted.

[Earwax]

Sorry . not quite with you on your explanation.  You are talking tie rod not track rod?  It failed catastophically as in arm broke or  dropped out caused severe veer or other>?  If you can see the thread in entirety has it just backed out of the front keeper or has the back bolt sheered.  None of these are good and i am glad you pulled over successfully , but just trying to picture the scenario

[sledgehammer]

how old is the part ?

 

was a pot hole involved ?

 

the problem is mini's are all getting old now & the corrosion / fracturing  is hidden in that area

[Ethel]

Since a bush is mentioned I'm assuming it's the subframe end of the tie rod. I've not heard of it happening but a lower grade nut and/or overtightening of the same might do it.

[nicklouse]

but there is only one bolt?

 

unless it is a rose jointed set up that has 2 bolts.

 

as said clarity is required.

[ABZSupercooper]

I wish I could post A picture , it is the thread at the front where it comes through the lug by the front number plate, it looks to me like the nut has broken and flown off and the rod popped out , It is a non standard adjustable set up on the car, It felt like we hit something on the road like a stone but I could not see anything after the event.

[ABZSupercooper]

Picture of car on recovery truck, this was the position of the rod post failure ,  

 

 

 IMG_3401.JPG   100.05K   63 downloads  IMG_3401.JPG   100.05K   63 downloads

[MatthewsDad]

I'm glad you're safe, that could have been nasty. Was the tow eye fitted to the end of the tie bar via the subframe, rather than a nut? Poly or rubber bush?

[KTS]

the only way the tie rod can come out like that is if the nut is missing from the end - it either wasn't fitted, or has come off (..takes a long time for a nut to 'walk off' by itself so i wouldn't expect the threads to be clean) 

 

i'd be looking to see what type of nut has been used to secure the other tie rod  - locknuts should be in use i believe

[ABZSupercooper]

I will replace the whole lot just so I know the nuts and bushes are of good quality , Currently all rubber bushes, The lug can be seen in the picture just beside the end of the rod, the towing eye is a good bit higher and nothing to do with the issue.

[Steve220]

Was the bolt fitted facing up or down?

[spraybeater]

Good idea to fit new one, including the proper bolt through the bottom suspension arm.

+ new nylocks! on both looks like thats been cross threaded and the threads stripped by some

ham-fisted moron.

[whistler]

but there is only one bolt?
 
unless it is a rose jointed set up that has 2 bolts.
 
as said clarity is required.

Needs to be special long shanked bolt and preferably nyloc nut. Fully threaded bolts are weaker.

Edited by whistler, 15 September 2018 - 09:52 AM.

[Ethel]

Another couple of thoughts.....

 

Incorrect thread type

 

Could it have been tampered with, upset any neighbours?