Scary steering entry???

[Stomis]

only thing on a tie rod that could possibly be cast is the wnd that houses the balljoint.

Seems to me you cant even weld to cast can you? I mean it doesnt even penetrate?

Furthermore, in my experience, cast metal just snaps rather than bends. Ive bent many a tierod in my day, Ive also welded gussets to them for hydro assist, steering stabilizers etc.

Yeah I'm gonna have to agree with Money here. I believe that a tierod is regular mild steel not cast. As he said cast cracks plus has the "gnarled" texture to it, Ive never seen a tierod like that.

But you can weld cast. Technically the correct way is stick welding it with a nickle rod I believe it is but it welds just fine with cleaning it up and preheating the cast with a MAPP torch. Hell I welded my shock tabs to my d44 that go up the C's and the cast C's welded easier than the axle tubes.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

But you can weld cast. Technically the correct way is stick welding it with a nickle rod I believe it is but it welds just fine with cleaning it up and preheating the cast with a MAPP torch. Hell I welded my shock tabs to my d44 that go up the C's and the cast C's welded easier than the axle tubes.

"Cast" is not term that you can generalize like that.

Cast iron is difficult to weld and requires special techniques and equipment to do it.

Cast steel (which is what that the c's on a D44 or D60 are made of) welds quite easily.

 

[Merv]

Who gives a **** what it's made out of. It's is in the same category as front lift blocks. It may work, but should it be used, Absolutley not.

 

[moneypit_K5]

Ive yet to see a legittimate reason why it is so bad from anyone. Theres alot of guys Whos's opinion I value alot(Kert, Luke etc).


Lets hear some good reasons why. Everyone else who has a "well its just not right" is not helpful. This is beginning to seem like nobody has a good reason other than its hideous so it cant work because it isnt storebought parts. Im not sticking up for it, I want to hear some good constructive critique.

Yeah I'm gonna have to agree with Money here.

Was that a pig that just flew by?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Ive yet to see a legittimate reason why it is so bad from anyone. Theres alot of guys Whos's opinion I value alot(Kert, Luke etc).


Lets hear some good reasons why. Everyone else who has a "well its just not right" is not helpful. This is beginning to seem like nobody has a good reason other than its hideous so it cant work because it isnt storebought parts. Im not sticking up for it, I want to hear some good constructive critique.

It puts lots of leverage on the welds/material due to poor design. The biggest stress points will be at the corners:

Stock draglinks are straight and are only stressed in tension/compression (where they are strongest). Adding any kind of bend introduces an aspect of shear/leverage and makes the steering link much weaker.

Now, many people (myself included) run a draglink with a bend in it. If its properly designed, a bent draglink works just fine.

Often times people design things around what they can make fit vs. what will work. Most people who might be willing to make their own draglink like this probably aren't engineers and don't understand the stresses involved vs. the material size, dimensions, etc. involved to make it a safe setup.


But, honestly, I see your point and I could see this thing holding up ok. Trail only, that's actually not that shady of a setup. On the street, I'd be worried that the welds would crack over time.

 

[cybrfire]

What is the tie rod made from? I personally don't know. It can be welded on however, doesn't necessarily mean its something that should be welded on. Some steel will weld just fine and be damaged at the same time. It's called hydrogen embrittlement. This is just an example of things that can happen and do quite often.

What is the plate? How thick? Generally I don't consider a plate oriented in a single plane a structural component. Tubing on the other hand, is far more suited to deal with the forces that would be introduced.

How does this welded assembly react to different stresses introduced from the steering forces, feedback forces, impact forces and so on. Who knows?! I've seen alot of bent tie rods to be sure. There are a couple spots on this particular piece that I doubt will bend at all. A bent tie rod is somewhat of a good thing. The alternate being flat out broken in two.

Who welded it? Were all these factors considered or was it just welded together? Did the welder make a pretty weld or a good weld?

In the end, there are alot of variables here. On one hand it may work just fine and never, ever fail. On the other hand it may very well fail. Most likely if it does fail, it will do so at the worst possible moment. Another thing to consider, if its on a rig, at some point it'll be hurled down the highway at 55+ MPH. Sooner or later it will.

Inspection, I have no idea what qualifications the inspection type people have. I have heard there is a "No weld rule" in the steering system. I'd imagine its there so they don't have to ask these questions. Just DQ and be done.

How much cash was saved here? Less than ya might think if you value your time at all, and that is considering it never fails. If it does fail....

My .02.

 

[DEMON44]

I'm a licenced HD mechanic and Licenced CVIP inspector for commercial vehicles in Alberta the bottom line if a truck came into my shop any weld on the steering. is an automatic fail. if a rig came in with anything remotely hinted of that. I'd call the DOT and someone'd be going to jail.

just sayin.......thats what I do. thats all I know.