8 replies to this topic

[sprite72]

Hi all
Having a look at my tie rods one is slightly bent .
Should I change the 2 for heavy duty ones or just change the bent one .
Will I gain much for changing them for the heavy duty ones that I will notice .
The car is just a summer road car .
thanks

[A-Cell]

Remove the slightly bent one and straighten it. Then refit it.

[Cooperman]

That is surely the easiest way and takes little time. Make sure you use new bolts at the tie-bar to lower arm join. They are special 5/16" UNFbolts and you should use Nyloc Nuts and flat washers.

[A-Cell]

Yes as Cooperman says these
http://www.minispare...|Back to search

[Cooperman]

A tip here if I may.

Those bolts are too long to be removed and re-fitted without undoing the lower swivel hub ball joint.

However, you can knock the bolt partly out, then cut the head off to get it out.

Re-fit the new bolt upwards, drill it and use a castellated nut with a split pin for total safety. Do not just use the old nut when fitting upwards or downwards, although a Nyloc Nut if OK, especially if the top of the bolt thread is slightly deformed after tightening, known as 'lock-peening'.

For competition where those tie bars often bend it is common to use an upwards bolt and castellated nut/split pin.

[sprite72]

Great thanks for the advice

[Dan]

I disagree with that. Fitting upwards is good for a rally or race car where service time is critical and inspections are regular. In a road car fit it the proper, standard way. It's fitted like that for a reason. Drilling and lock wiring or split pinning the nut would work fine, but is an extra procedure to remember and is not in any manual, nor a common thing to do, so would easily be forgotten. Splitting the lower joint is not hard or really very time consuming and is a part of the process for changing the rod in all manuals. If you fit it downwards it simply cannot come out.

I would not fit heavy duty tie rods, by bending when they do they are sort of a sacrificial part. If they don't bend when you hit something the ears they mount to can tear off the subframe, then the car can't be driven and the repair is much harder than swapping a rod.

[Stu1961]

That is surely the easiest way and takes little time. Make sure you use new bolts at the tie-bar to lower arm join. They are special 5/16" UNFbolts and you should use Nyloc Nuts and flat washers.

Recently bought a new pair of tie rods from Mini Spares that come complete with all the bolts/nuts/washers and rubbers. I am pretty certain the bolts supplied that secure the tie rod to the lower arm are the wrong ones as the shank of the bolt is threaded to much and as such a threaded portion of the bolt is within the lower arm. Can anyone confirm my thoughts?

 

Just something to be wary of if they are the wrong ones before buying.    

[Ethel]

Heavy duty tie bars also flex less, giving more consistent geometry. I agree the benefits aren't significant for a road car.