Boxheads Front Steering.

Mando · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2005, 06:04 PM

Hi Boxhead,
I was looking through your gallery and noticed both you and Aussie Mike repositioned and replaced the male rod ends on the steering with female rod ends and used separate bolts. Has your engineer seen it and if so did he have any problems with this setup?

Regards.

boxhead · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2005, 08:31 PM

I havent checked mine with the wheel in its running position (weight on shockie) so I dont know if this will be a permenant thing or not.
It hasnt been inspected yet as I dont know if it is an improvement.

I only have a standard bolt in it at the moment but If I make it permenant then I will machine up a bolt with a tappered shaft to fit correctly in the steering knuckle.

Aussie Mike · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2005, 08:35 PM

My engineer hasn't seen it yet. In theory they should be OK. The rod ends I'm using are Chrome Molly teflon lined units normally used on race car suspensions. They are much stronger than the standard tie rod ends used. There are specs sheets available on these rod ends that I can give to the engineer if he needs some proof.

I'm also relying a bit on the fact that the whole setup is neat and tidy enough that it looks like a factory setup and won't merit a second glance.

Cheers

Aussie Mike · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2005, 08:46 PM

What size rod end are you using David? Is it an M12 or M14 thread? What size bolt through the eye?

I don't know if I'd do a tapered bolt. I've never been a fan of machining bolts down. the rolled threads on the bolt are much stronger than cut threads as they don't create stress risers. Also the flux of the metals grain stucture flows around the rolled threads. I'd probably drill out and sleeve the hole for a straight bolt.

Check out Carol Smiths book Engineer To Win.

I've drilled mine out to 5/8" and I'm using a high tensile 5/8' UNF bolt. The rod has a 5/8" hole and a 5/8" Left Hand UNF thread.

Cheers

boxhead · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 12:10 AM

My tie rods are M14 thread (same as VL tie rod ends).
Probably would be easier & better to drill out the knuckle to suit a standard bolt.

The tie rod ends where harder to find in this thread but still got them ok