Bent tie rod and steering rod?

[mistaboz]

Went out Friday night.
After washing the car Saturday arvo noticed the tie rod (links the two front wheels together?) had a slight bend!
Further inspection revealed a bent steering rod (diagonal bar between passenger wheel going up towards steering box?).
Should I have a go at straightening them while on the car?
Should I remove and try and straighten?
Or should I remove and replace?

Cheers PAUL..

[v840]

Remove and replace ideally but I think a few people have got away with straightening them. You'll need to take them off first.
I think structural integrity is compromised once they are bent though so they wont be as strong. I could be wrong though.

[midnight]

R&R but dont throw away the bent ones.

Straighten them, and then reinforce them.

[lay80n]

Remember that It is instant fail if any steering component shows evidence of repair via heat. (from RTA rego book).

layto....

[christover1]

I just replaced mine with a 2nd hand one from suziworld, not worth the risk repairing,
christover

[mistaboz]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Will give Suziworld a call today and see if they can help me out.

PAUL..

[christover1]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Will give Suziworld a call today and see if they can help me out.

PAUL..

I got some NT tiebars you can have 1 if needed, but I only got bent drag linx.

[mistaboz]

christover - I have a wt Sierra.
Are they interchangeable? If so is it a direct replacement or some minor work required?

Cheers

[christover1]

christover - I have a wt Sierra.
Are they interchangeable? If so is it a direct replacement or some minor work required?

Cheers

Sorry, you need to use WT stuff. Tiebar between the wheels is longer.
I'm not sure if draglink is different length, but they usually come as a package from the wreckers.
Mine was cheap, but I assume WT stuff may not be?

christover

[=SKB=]

Call SuziWest for a price on the whole setup. There replacement tierod offer comes with the rhs tie rod end included. I ordered the whole tie rod assembly and drag link at 3pm and had it by 10am the next day from Perth (I'm on the mid north coast of NSW). It isn't on their website so give them a ring as it's cheaper then listed. Genuine parts would have taken four weeks from Japan and cost $$$ as apparently there were none in stock within Australia.

[mistaboz]

Just called Suziworld then.
They have them in stock. $110 for the both of them.
Should be on their way this afternoon, so should have them tomorrow.
Thanks for all your replies.

Cheers PAUL..

ps. Does this seem cheap or exi?

[christover1]

Just called Suziworld then.
They have them in stock. $110 for the both of them.
Should be on their way this afternoon, so should have them tomorrow.
Thanks for all your replies.

Cheers PAUL..

ps. Does this seem cheap or exi?

That's a fair price for both and being a wt.
I've seen just the draglink at $130 on one web site.
And being delivered is cool.
Won't say what mine cost or you'd hate me
Maybe ya need bigger tyres to keep the tiebar away from rocks

christover

[mistaboz]

HA!
I just got bigger tyres. Now this happens!
Ahh well, was fun doing it

[christover1]

HA!
I just got bigger tyres. Now this happens!
Ahh well, was fun doing it

Drag links can bend through old age, extra stress of bigger tyres and trying to turn when tyres are jammed in ruts. This can be be worsened by huge tyres and power steer with huge offset rims..This probably bent mine as its all of the above and 23 years old.

But tie bars I have only seen bent by hard knocks, rocks, roots, etc.
Drag links can be bent by knocks, too.

Only ever bent 2 drag links in 12 years of abuse, and never bent a tie bar...so it won't be a regular issue.

christover

[bushpig59]

HA!
I just got bigger tyres. Now this happens!
Ahh well, was fun doing it

Drag links can bend through old age, extra stress of bigger tyres and trying to turn when tyres are jammed in ruts. This can be be worsened by huge tyres and power steer with huge offset rims..This probably bent mine as its all of the above and 23 years old.

But tie bars I have only seen bent by hard knocks, rocks, roots, etc.
Drag links can be bent by knocks, too.

Only ever bent 2 drag links in 12 years of abuse, and never bent a tie bar...so it won't be a regular issue.

christover

Mistaboz aint tellin whole truth theyve been doing the DUKES OF HAZZARD in hill climbs streams and all sorts of extreme stuff at Paddys there nite drives are FULL METAL JACKET!!!