Scott in Bellingham Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 seems like I cant keep these straight heres a few Ive bent so I shoved the bar threw a 1 x 1-1/2" rectangular tube and welded the ended we ll see how this works will test this saturday at walker what have you guys done and how do you prevent such bending ?? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigo1966 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 How do you keep bending them? Heavy foot or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s'ko Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 i think it's a classic example of how we are taking these cars beyond their intended design limits. a completely tubular radius rod would probably do the trick, but then you will be dealing with the rear mount ripping off b/c it's just stamped sheet metal, so then you make a reinforced rear mount. After that I think things should be good. Can't really see the bolts shearing, but if they do, you might just want to design a one piece a arm for the front along with a new rear mounting point. that's my .02 BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I probably bent/destroyed 8-10 of those while wheelin my subarus. and even so, managed to rip all 6 captive nuts out of the framerails at some point too.... I'd leave 'em weak and carry extras! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 on full suspension compression, are you sure its not hitting on the frame rail or that thing that hangs down which has the brake line routed thru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsboy Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Not to jinx you, but I would be willing to bet the rod bends at one of the welds... since the steel has lost some temper from the welding there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 maybe you have really worn shocks, and the combo of the bigger tire hitting into obstacles. What tire pressure also? I consider you a wheeler level way above my few times out, but I dont want to be doing this to mine so i want to learn from the benefit of you bending them. Please followup on this more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 I dont want to be doing this to mine so i want to learn from the benefit of you bending them. Please followup on this more. its from ramming the front tire into rocks, roots trees other imovable items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 (edited) its from ramming the front tire into rocks, roots trees other imovable items Only those who seriously offroad would know that Scott. I re-enforced mine with 1/4" tubing/pipe. The only problem with that is you no longer have your "fuse" there. It is much easier to carry a few radius rods then it is to carry body mounts or control arms. There was a lengthy conversation regarding this exact thing. People were wanting to reenforce every part on the suspension. The problem with that is that you lose your known weak point and no longer know what is going to break. Just a grain of salt to throw over your shoulder. Edited June 18, 2009 by Qman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 What does it do to the lower control arm after you pretzel a radius rod like that? I bent one once, and it tweaked the lower control arm and its mount. Even after replacing the radius rod & control arm, the car never drove straight again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 probably about half the time that I needed to replace the radius rod, I had to replace the control arm too. never tweaked the mount.....maybe EA82 xmembers are a bit tougher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 What does it do to the lower control arm after you pretzel a radius rod like that? I bent one once, and it tweaked the lower control arm and its mount. Even after replacing the radius rod & control arm, the car never drove straight again. the control arm bends near the bolt mount , you can usually just unbend it , but they do start to crack at that point , Ive never hurt the crossmember its a Ea82 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 my dad had one rust off while he was driving it on the highway!!!! nothing like a little forward/rearward wheel travel to wake you up! I never bent one that I know of... just broke and bent other stuff..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamCF Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I've bent one. Was told to weld a piece of angle iron (1/2"-3/4") the length of it. I think it was Turbone who told me about that. (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phizinza Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Drive softer, use smaller tyres to gain crawl gearing, pick your best line by doing a walk over the terrain before you drive it. But seems you've been 4wding long enough Scott, I'd suggest just sticking solid axles under your subies and build a subframe..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstaru Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 just mount it in a different place.......use the curve to your advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykingcrab Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 (edited) I realize that you question was" what have you guys done", I only have done this on my 2wd toyota Ivan Stuart clone that I built,sold. I like Downeys idea. when it rotates on the same axis,there is no bind, and no rearward-frontward wheel movement. Its alot stronger to trail this link than to have it lead. cant bend it...........It seems way overkill for what were dealing with on our subes, but its a solution,,,,,,,,,,,,, and with you being one,if not the best fabricator on the usmb, should be a breeze with that awsome jig you have in your shop. Edited July 9, 2009 by mykingcrab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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