Modified steering op-ed & discussion: know the risks when you modify steering / tie rods

[Sitruc_btb]

The argument of factory geometry does not cause excess damage or wear has been addressed by ford. HOSS 3.0 steering rack became standard on the model with upgraded fox suspension and I don't think this was a random item. Overall I don't think that limiting the travel is going to overcome the the factory bushing lack of support.

I would flashlight the bushing after a couple of trails to see if you are wheeling hard enough to damage the bushing.



Take what he does with a grain of salt, he is doing critical failure not long term stress testing. Take a piece of plastic and slowly tap it on something hard, it will eventual crack and break. I want people to think about the long term wear slowly damaging the part. Material either wears (slowly lose material at the contact point) or permanently deform (micro cracking, exceeding the yield strength) depending on the properties. The factory bushing is just cheap black plastic so it does both (wear and deform) rather well. BB discovered that offroad engineering (swapping to a better material) fix the problem and sells this fix through youtube. This youtube entertainment R&D leaves people with polar opposite views on the subject.

If I had money and nothing better to do you could strap a steering rack to several machines and do proper stress testing. I know in college I loved to test things in the press! We had a going database of computer mouse compression strengths since they would fail all the time and we would crush them for fun.

I do. I know the guy goes full send where he probably shouldn't, but I found it interesting about the loss of steering in particular, and followed his videos through that, what he found, what he made to address the loss of steering problem. Course someone else argued that the guy created his own problem, and found a fix to his own problem, and sells it. And maybe it's only needed on rigs wth 37's, lifts, and up. I have a minor lift and 35's, so maybe it's not an issue for me.

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[BigMeatsBronco]

I once limped home in an isuzu vehicross after a broken tie rod from a log crossing. I used a screwdriver as the tie rod and ratchet strap to hold it together for the 40 miles home....had too much toe in but I made it home.

that was 20 yrs ago when Joe Darlington made the FIRST tie rod braces for Japanese rides.

the Bronco has the same sized tie rods as the isuzu. too small.

back then, after beefing up the tierods, the idler arms shaft became the new weak point. I bent the 1" thick shaft with 36 in tires.

The broncos rack is WEAK period. I'll be upgrading to the 74 weld rack soon.

 

[Tex]

I once limped home in an isuzu vehicross after a broken tie rod from a log crossing. I used a screwdriver as the tie rod and ratchet strap to hold it together for the 40 miles home....had too much toe in but I made it home.

that was 20 yrs ago when Joe Darlington made the FIRST tie rod braces for Japanese rides.

the Bronco has the same sized tie rods as the isuzu. too small.

back then, after beefing up the tierods, the idler arms shaft became the new weak point. I bent the 1" thick shaft with 36 in tires.

The broncos rack is WEAK period. I'll be upgrading to the 74 weld rack soon.

I knew the tie rods were going to be an issue before I ever saw a Bronco in person. Anyone that's bent a tie rod can take one look at them and see it. If that's the kind of tie rods that have to be used in order to "save" the rack, then the rack is absolutely not strong enough for 35's. I've been patiently waiting for my 74weld rack to show up, I can't wait to get rid of this 2.0 and stop babying it.

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

I'm leaning towards the 74 welds route as well. Had a great conversation with them before I had or was even considering getting a bronco. I was talking to them about Portals for a TRX and they gave a Bronco rack demonstration. The following day an unfortunate incident led to me getting a Bronco not long after I got home from KOH.

 

[redone17]

I'm leaning towards the 74 welds route as well. Had a great conversation with them before I had or was even considering getting a bronco. I was talking to them about Portals for a TRX and they gave a Bronco rack demonstration. The following day an unfortunate incident led to me getting a Bronco not long after I got home from KOH.

Doesn’t sound so unfortunate

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

Doesn’t sound so unfortunate

It was unfortunate in the beginning but led to great things. I’m definitely happy to be here.

 

[NORCALGXP]

Doesn’t sound so unfortunate

The photo I looked at on one of his posts the TRX on it's side, looked to be a flat ground. Could be doing doughnuts and wheel caught and the truck rolled?

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

The photo I looked at on one of his posts the TRX on it's side, looked to be a flat ground. Could be doing doughnuts and wheel caught and the truck rolled?

It was flat ground. Not donuts though. Higher speed flat sandy section that developed washboard from everyone braking towards the end where it gets rough. Hit the washboard and the backend pitched sideways. Slid sideways until driver's side tires hit the embankment on the side which caused it to catch and roll. We were close to camp and on the way back to start the campfire and steaks.

 

[mpeugeot]

Alternatively, if you want to warranty your steering rack for failure, make sure you keep your OEM wheels and tires in pristine condition and when you break the rack, remove the JKS tie rod sleeves, pull off your 37s, re-install the factory rims and tires, remove your aftermarket skid plates, and tow to the dealer to be dropped off by your wife who was "just out shopping at the mall" when the steering wheel stopped working.

LMFAO

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

I ordered the 74 weld stage 1 kit for now. I will run that for a bit and eventually get the 74 weld stage 3 kit. I have Icon tie rods I carry as spares. I think for now I will keep them as spares and run the factory tie rods still. I may swap them in before my next alignment though.

 

[Snacktime]

@Shifts And Grins Fab take some photos of your stock bushings. Would like to see how they look with all that front travel and desert running.

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

@Shifts And Grins Fab take some photos of your stock bushings. Would like to see how they look with all that front travel and desert running.

I will

 

[Aonarch]

How easy is it to install the BB or RC bushings? I am very mechanically sound, but I do not feel like spending 6 hours to install one little piece.

 

[V1Rotate]

How easy is it to install the BB or RC bushings? I am very mechanically sound, but I do not feel like spending 6 hours to install one little piece.

Takes 20 minutes if you take 10 minutes to drink a beer between sides (assuming the RC ones since you get both). Just undo the tie rod boot, remove tie rod and pick the old little flimsy black “bushing” out, insert new real bushing and reverse the process to reinstall. Rinse and repeat for two sides. Just go easy on the boot clamp if you wanna re-use it or have another set of clamps/hose clamps ready for the reinstall

 

[diggs44060]

I did the 74Weld 2.0 rack housing and icon tie rods..it was a kit from 74Weld..just had to swap out the internals of my factory Badlands Sasquatch 2door..
I'm happy with it

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