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HD Tie Rod Clearance

nvrenuf

nvrenuf

Holy crap, it's running!
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Do you know approx. how close the 1.5" tie rod gets to a D60 (stock) diff cover at it's closest point during it's swing? Let's assume that the OE steering stops are unmolested.

I will be using a rock ring like protector and I am curious to see if I will have enough clearance.
 
I can let you know tonight what the clearance will be with a Bluetorch cover on one. I just got my 1.5x3/8 wall tie rod in and will be installing it tonight. I sure hope it doesn't hit the cover.
 
I know FortCollinsRam had interference between his ORD tierod and his Crane Diff cover on his D60. Don't know how thick the Crane cover exactly though.

Harley
 
Well it hits with no axle stops, I think it will be okay once I get the axle stops in. May have to adjust them out a little though.

I would post a pic but I don't see where you can do that on the new forum.
 
Great info guys, although I'm thinking if the Crane cover hits my ring will too.

To post pics; once in your Control Panel go to "Edit Options", at the very bottom you will see "Message Editor Interface". In this section you'll see a drop down box, choose "Enhanced Interface", this option will change your reply text window giving you a lot more bells & whistles. :thumb:
 
Here is a pic of the clearance when the axle is almost at full lock with no stops.


Clearance_on_tie_rod.jpg
 
Here you can see how much the axle is turned without the stops.


Axle_stops.jpg

Thanks for the instructions on how to post pics nvrenuf:D
 
Hmmm... next question, any idea how thick the Crane cover is (from the D60 mounting flange to the forward most edge where it's hitting)?


Glad I could help on the pics, it helped both of us. :thumb:
 
nvrenuf said:
Hmmm... next question, any idea how thick the Crane cover is (from the D60 mounting flange to the forward most edge where it's hitting)?
Click to expand...
I can measure this weekend sometime, this is actually a Bluetorch Fabworks cover not a Crane.
 
OL14BLAZ said:
I can measure this weekend sometime, this is actually a Bluetorch Fabworks cover not a Crane.
Click to expand...
That would be great, I'm just trying to get an idea of the distance. THANKS!!
 
Hey John, just get the hysteer kit and you won't have that problem. Plus then you could be almost as cool as me!

Corey
 
OWWWW! Hey, that hurt. :yikes: :D

I tried to talk my wife into the hysteer kit but she said Santa Claus didn't have that many moneys. Rats... :doah: That's ok though, it's still in my future she doesn't realize it. :rotfl:
 
If you offroad your truck hard with hysteer you put your self at greater risk of cracking the knuckles. Fords are more prone to this butt Chevy's have been known to do it too. Leave the tierod low and just use a very heavywall tierod. This helps keep more of the steering for in the place where Dana designed it to be.

Harley
 
Hossbaby50 said:
If you offroad your truck hard with hysteer you put your self at greater risk of cracking the knuckles. Fords are more prone to this butt Chevy's have been known to do it too. Leave the tierod low and just use a very heavywall tierod. This helps keep more of the steering for in the place where Dana designed it to be.

Harley
Click to expand...
Agreed 100%.

And on mine, with 5/16 x 3" plate fit tightly over the diff cover arch, it just barely touches at full lock with a 1.75 OD tie rod.
 
I have the same tie rod. At full turn, with a stock D60 cover it is too close for me to add a diff protector to the cover...don't feel like getting out there to measure but I can. I would skip the thing...that tie rod will take a very hard smack and bounce back.

Or get a replacement cover.

Post Script - My ram has an 8.5" throw. Turns tighter than my 2wd 'burb.

ORD crossover rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If the tolerance is that close then just plate the bottom of the cover below the tierod. Matt (az-k5) has a piece of 3/8" strap steel welded over the ring gear that ends right below the tierod. He also has 1/4" plates running form the strap to various other places on the lower diff cover to protect it from rocks.

This way the rocks are smacking your protected cover or your beefed tierod. The cover doesn't need to be beefed above the tierod. It won't ever hit it up there.

Get a tierod heavier then .250 wall though. They can be bent. Get a 3/8" or 1/2" tierod. They are much harder to bend. No sense in paying for a .250 wall rockrod if you are going to be able to bend it and have to buy a new one.

Harley
 
Yeah I have the Crane cover and the 1.5"x3/8" ORD tierod. I had to adjust the axle stops just a bit to keep the rod from hitting at full lock. I will try to get some pics of my setup. I will also grab a measurement of how far the Crane cover is from the cover mounting surface on the D60.

Chris
 
fortcollinsram said:
Yeah I have the Crane cover and the 1.5"x3/8" ORD tierod. I had to adjust the axle stops just a bit to keep the rod from hitting at full lock. I will try to get some pics of my setup. I will also grab a measurement of how far the Crane cover is from the cover mounting surface on the D60.

Chris
Click to expand...
Great! THANKS!!
 
I've got a Crane 60 cover too and I don't hit the cover with the 1.5" tierod. My stops are turned in slightly further than the recommended specs also.

Ryan
 
I think this clearance is going to vary a little from axle to axle. I know on the ford 78-79 d60's the tierods get even closer and some hit and some don't. Some minor rubbing isn't anything to be concerned with, not clearing by 1/8" or more, you might want to do some mods.
 
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