Streering extensions in australia

[Brumby Boy]

If we arnt alowed welded steering extensions in australia why are the original joints etc welded????

[Shadyirishmen]

Maybe they are worried about a shop not welding them correctly. A factory made part is going to be backed by the reputable company with extremely deep pockets, if someone dies driving a subaru, Subaru will most likely be reimburse the family for the death with millions of dollars. Where a small company on the other hand may only have 2000 dollars will not be able to pay the million dollars awarded to the family. I think thats what the deal is.

[FirstSubaruGLwagon]

for sure, there is reason for concern..

I took my linkage to a local shop and said 3 inches longer please... I said this assuming they knew what they were doing.. I got the linkage back , 4 inches longer and the dummys had lined up the U joints:banghead:

 

And the man brought it back to me reaking of gen or burbon or wisky or something and it was only 3 pm:rolleyes:

 

I was told that another cut and weld would weaken the metal to much.

 

Thankfuly I was able to disassembe the linkage and mod it without fruther welding:rolleyes: and alighn the joints properly

[Brumby Boy]

Yeah but its all got to be B/S because with tec we have to day, ie: x-ray etc, it can be deturmend that the weld is suitable?

 

 

Any way i just think that its all just B/S!!:-\

[LosDiosDeVerde86]

for sure, there is reason for concern..

I took my linkage to a local shop and said 3 inches longer please... I said this assuming they knew what they were doing.. I got the linkage back , 4 inches longer and the dummys had lined up the U joints:banghead:

 

And the man brought it back to me reaking of gen or burbon or wisky or something and it was only 3 pm:rolleyes:

 

I was told that another cut and weld would weaken the metal to much.

 

Thankfuly I was able to disassembe the linkage and mod it without fruther welding:rolleyes: and alighn the joints properly

 

not to change the subject, but i'm gettin a kick out of your avatar

[MorganM]

If we arnt alowed welded steering extensions in australia why are the original joints etc welded????

 

Because they are engineerd by a certified engineer. Pretty sure you guys can do that kind of stuff; as long as you get it engineer certified right?

 

Just weld the thing up and don't tell anyone

[Ross]

Yeah, you should be able to get it all legal if you get an engineer to check it out - we can in NZ, and from what i've heard our modification laws are stricter than yours!

 

The problem with letting anyone do it, is that they could very easily grab a bit of medium/high carbon steel ("yeah, stronger, right?") and weld it up with a MIG or stick with the part at room temperature as normal. You'd then put the extension in, drive away, hit a pothole while going around the bend and wonder why your steering stops working!

 

Welding can be very dangerous when done by someone who doesn't know what they are doing - even if they can make a very pretty weld.

 

If you do end up welding anything critical like that, make absolutely sure that the steel is a plain low carbon steel! Some other alloy additions wont cause any probs, but others will, so watch it.

 

If there is any doubt about the carbon/alloy content, don't risk it, you wont be able to tell that the part is brittle untill too late.

[4x4mudrat]

If you think it's BS then why don't you ask a friendly Automotive Engineer?

 

Alternatively you can email standards@dotars.gov.au and ask for a copy of the 3rd Edition (Dec 1986) of the Australian Design Rules.

 

To save you the bother, here I have copied and pasted a portion of "VSI06":

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steering components are fundamental to vehicle safety. Always avoid cutting, welding (or otherwise hot working) any steering components such as pitman arms, drag links or steering knuckles.

 

 

That would be Vehicle Standards Information No.6 Rev.2, pp:5.

 

The reason that OE parts may be welded may be due to the fact that they have been forged post welding - this homogenises the metal.