How hard is it to bend a tie rod?
03-10-2010, 05:43 AM
#1
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How hard is it to bend a tie rod?
When I put my adustable LCA's in on Sunday I had a buddy help me and he put the floor jack on the center of my tie rod to help line up the bolt holes on the axle brackets. I didn't think this was a good idea but he works on 4x4 stuff all the time and assured me it would be fine. Now the entire weight of the front end was not on the jack but it was enough that it worried me.
I don't know if it is just in my head or what, but now when I look at my tie rod it appears to have a slight upward bow in it. Maybe 1/2" or so.
Do you think it has bent? If so is this a major problem or can it be fixed/worked out? Should I be worried about it at all? It still drives straight and there is no shimmy or anything.
I don't know if it is just in my head or what, but now when I look at my tie rod it appears to have a slight upward bow in it. Maybe 1/2" or so.
Do you think it has bent? If so is this a major problem or can it be fixed/worked out? Should I be worried about it at all? It still drives straight and there is no shimmy or anything.
03-10-2010, 05:45 AM
#2
I'm almost betting it wasn't the tie rod if it's still driving straight, but if it was then I'm assuming it can take stress better than a sharp impact. Thats a plain bad idea and a fairly unsafe one if its on the tierod. In my opinion.
03-10-2010, 06:53 AM
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I haven't had it long enough to wheel yet! I just got it brand new two weeks ago yesterday and put the lift on the 27th. I should have around 1k miles on it by this weekend. Hope to go hit Superlift ORV in Hot Springs this weekend. If not, I am planning to go down there the 20th for the JK meet.
Back on subject though...
The Jeep was on jack stands with the wheels off so the weight of the vehicle was on those. From what it sounds like, I shouldn't be too worried about it.
Back on subject though...
The Jeep was on jack stands with the wheels off so the weight of the vehicle was on those. From what it sounds like, I shouldn't be too worried about it.
03-10-2010, 07:26 AM
#4
The factory TR's arent too difficult to bend, but more from an impact as stated above. Still, I personally dont think this is the best idea. There is a really good chance you will bend it yourself on the trail. If it does have the slight bow you think you see, all that would happen from it would be that you effectively just gave yourself a little more toe-in. If it IS bent, it will continue to get worse as you wheel. You can straighten it, but it will bend again once it is compromised. I would just keep an eye on it. Pay attention to whether your steering feels a little more "flighty" than before, and watch your front tires for any abnormal wear indicating that your alignment (toe) is not correct.
03-10-2010, 10:41 AM
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03-10-2010, 11:53 AM
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Best I can do for now. Crappy Blackberry picture
Like I said, it is just a slight bend if any at all. It may be all in my mind.
I know when he put the jack on it to line up the bolt holes it was bending a good 1" or so but it may have gone back to it's original place and I just keep thinking it's bent.
Like I said, it is just a slight bend if any at all. It may be all in my mind.
I know when he put the jack on it to line up the bolt holes it was bending a good 1" or so but it may have gone back to it's original place and I just keep thinking it's bent.
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03-10-2010, 04:02 PM
#8
JK Junkie
A slight bend will toe the wheels in, unless it's past a certain point you won't notice a drivability problem. Toe-in causes the front wheels to ''push against'' each other, this enables any vehicle to travel in a straight line. Toed- out wheels cause the vehicle to go first one way then the other, the vehicle tries to follow whichever wheel gets past the center position to the outside. If you have a bend, according to what's showing in the picture it ain't much.
03-10-2010, 05:43 PM
#10