Don't know if I mentioned it previously.....bent my track rod on my RRC this past weekend....nice U shape.
My track rod is behind the front axle, which is not stock for a rangie as I understand it, but that's how it was when I bought it.
Bought a new one, which I think I'll have sleeved.
Anyways, as we were fixing it on the trail...my buddy who has a d-90 said he thought mine was just a touch further away from the diff than his was.....hard to tell with the bend......BTW, using the shackle on my front bumper was an excellant way to get it straightened out.
So out of idle curiosity I checked out under his d-90, and he had a little C shaped piece bolted to the diff....that I don't have. Checked out another d-90 at work and it had the same piece.
I couldn't exactly crawl under their and investigate. I couldn't tell if it had any worthwhile protective properties, or if it was just a flimsy piece to help keep the track bar in-line.

So is this piece stock? Does it afford any protection? Thought it might keep the bar from at least getting caught up on something.
-Seth

that does come stock on the D-90. It is pretty flimsy but seems to work pretty well. I would think it should fit on the rangie.

The SG rockguard works very well but is pricey.

Billster

If you have the two threaded holes on the underside of ýour third member you can fit one. It's actually a piece of an extruded aluminum profile.

Track bar?? Sure your not talking about tie rod?

Your best bet is to just take the stock tie rod and sleeve it with a piece of HREW or DOM. Hell, even heavy pipe would work since the core of the tie rod is still the "correct" material.

have you relocated your steering damper to the front yet?

Tie rod/track bar is there a difference? Rover info seems to call it a track rod, where others call it a tie rod. Not sure which is the right term....but I bought a "track Rod" from rovers north and its the same thing.

On my rover. In front of the I have a steering dampner. goes from the pitman to the front of the right tire.
Tie rod/track rod goes from the back of the right tire to the back of the left tire.
http://forum.neow.net/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=219635
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-3/121286/diff.jpg
Second pic is blurry.

The diff does have two threaded holes. That little c shape piece doesn't need to be too beefy....its just prevents the the tie rod from getting caught...which is my hope.
I do plan on sleaving the tie rod with some Dom.
Rockware makes a front pinion guard, with tie rod protection...I'm thinking that would be similar and a reasonably priced alternative. If that is what it does...no picture on the web site...not sure if it would accomodate a beefier rod. whatcha think?

Panhard bar and track bar are interchangeable but not tie rod track bar!

I think your - whatever you call it - can and will get cought up on things, but the little thingie on the diff will keep it from bending to much to drive with off the trail. There's space for a beefier rod in the stock thing.

Adam....will you be at TDR? should have the truck there...maybe you could show me what is stock and what is not. Haven't been able to inspect a stock rangie to compare differences. Bought the truck "built", so I don't necessarily know what is stock/aftermarket.....ya I'm one of "those" guys. However, at least I use it for its intended purpose....even though I didn't build it up personally.
-Seth

The RRC can't use the protector without relocating the dampener and removing the mounting eye for the dampener.

I have seen Defenders where the track rod was bent and its travel interfered with by the protector.

Rover refers to the tube in front of the axle as the "Cross tube" and that behind is referred to as the "track rod". Cross tube determines steering wheel position when wheels are pointing straight ahead. The track rod sets the toe angle.

Originally posted by PTSchram
The RRC can't use the protector without relocating the dampener and removing the mounting eye for the dampener.

I have seen Defenders where the track rod was bent and its travel interfered with by the protector.

Rover refers to the tube in front of the axle as the "Cross tube" and that behind is referred to as the "track rod". Cross tube determines steering wheel position when wheels are pointing straight ahead. The track rod sets the toe angle.

Track rod
Windscreen
Bonnett
Boot

Come awn it's not dweb time! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by sachilles
Adam....will you be at TDR? should have the truck there...maybe you could show me what is stock and what is not. Haven't been able to inspect a stock rangie to compare differences. Bought the truck "built", so I don't necessarily know what is stock/aftermarket.....ya I'm one of "those" guys. However, at least I use it for its intended purpose....even though I didn't build it up personally.
-Seth

I can't be there... job training here in MA all day :(

Just for shits and giggles, where is that trail those pics were taken on? It looks mildly familiar...

Trail pics are in Central VT. Can be more specific in PM if you like.
How one picture of a trail can look familiar is beyond me. Trees, rocks, dirt....they all look pretty similar.

Originally posted by PTSchram
The RRC can't use the protector without relocating the dampener and removing the mounting eye for the dampener.

I have seen Defenders where the track rod was bent and its travel interfered with by the protector.

Rover refers to the tube in front of the axle as the "Cross tube" and that behind is referred to as the "track rod". Cross tube determines steering wheel position when wheels are pointing straight ahead. The track rod sets the toe angle.

Pretty sure all that has been done. The "rod" in question{trying to keep my inner beavis from commenting} is indeed the device for adjusting the tow on my vehicle. When it bent, I had some serious tow out...right tire about 20° right of center and the left was about 20° left of center. Fixed by eyeball alignment for right now until I can get it to my buddies shop for a free alignment.

Anyone use/have a picture of the rockware piece I mentioned above?

Originally posted by sachilles

My track rod is behind the front axle, which is not stock for a rangie as I understand it, but that's how it was when I bought it.


No one commented on this and I am dieing to know...
Aren't the D-1, RRC, and Defender coil front axles all the same set up?
One in front one in the rear?

could you clarify? one in front one in back?

Originally posted by aloharover


No one commented on this and I am dieing to know...
Aren't the D-1, RRC, and Defender coil front axles all the same set up?
One in front one in the rear?

Not completely... but in general they are set up and function the same way. Supposedly the Defender front axle housing has different caster built into it that the Disco/RR, which allows it to take a lift better. On the earlier 90/110 axles, the hubs were much beefier as well.

Using the factory nomenclature is now fodder for derision? Next thing we won't be able to use the term "Tranny".:flipoff2:

C'mon OS. If we don't have a conventional term, confusion reigns.

Originally posted by Old Scout


Track rod
Windscreen
Bonnett
Boot

Come awn it's not dweb time! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by sachilles
could you clarify? one in front one in back?

Sorry, one steering rod in back of the axle, one located in the front.

In other words the drivers side ball joint housing has one stearing arm sticking out the back, and the non-driver side has one sticking out the back and one out the front.

Guess thats really my question, aren't the Housings the same from defender to Rangie to Disco.
I ask because my sals and my 110 front axles all came out of RHD vehicles. So I got two new2me housings from LHD vehicles. One was a d-90 the other I thought was an early disco.
Pete

Originally posted by PTSchram
Next thing we won't be able to use the term "Tranny".:flipoff2:



Read sig below...

Originally posted by DieLucas!


Read sig below...

It was not me who uttered (typed) the "D" word

Originally posted by PTSchram


It was not me who uttered (typed) the "D" word


I nontheless found this to be the only acceptable conclusion to some people's aversion to the word tranny...:D

Originally posted by DieLucas!



I nontheless found this to be the only acceptable conclusion to some people's aversion to the word tranny...:D

<running for cover>

You guys scare me:p

<lobbing grenade back towards Paul>

There is a $gard Tie Rod protector on D90 source for sale... Good price. But I prefer a bigger Tie Rod that it bent up out of the way like Rockware or Rovertracks builds...
Shameless plug but i did offer two other options..:rolleyes:

Keith
www.rovertracks.com

I use these and they're tough!
QT Diff Guards/steering bars (http://www.qtservices.co.uk/)
if you can't ship them you can make something similar

Originally posted by tony cordell
I use these and they're tough!
QT Diff Guards/steering bars (http://www.qtservices.co.uk/)
if you can't ship them you can make something similar

I JUST got done reading an article on this product in the October issue of LRW and was coming back here to post.
Looks like an awsome guard.
If you have any fab skills at all, be soup to knock one out in an afternoon.

Pete

They are extremley tough! My two are unmarked after some serious use
the steering bars are excellent too.
Is your LRW a USA version?

Tony,
Our LRW is the same as yours, not much about the USA and lots of teasing with all the Diesel tech and REALLY cheap D90's, D110's, D130's and basically everything Land Rover.

Qy guards are nice. Tough enough...
I complemented this with the lifetime watrrantied SUMO bars.

Still bent...and not that aggresive driving either.

In my view the only solution that will "guarantee" that you can drive off the trail is a "boat"/slider mounted under the complete non steeringarm interfering length of the track rod.

Marketed by Southdown among others. ( I bought mine from Micke on Åland...)
http://www.devon4x4.com/Products/under_body.php
http://www.alcom.aland.fi/micke/offroad.html

$0.02

T

I have to chime in here. Qt protecting the Salisbury diffpan in the rear. Sumobars for drag link and track rod (you there, OS?) and "Micke" stuff protecting the track rod and front diff. It is fixed to the sway brackets and front bolts for the radius arms. 8mm steel under the track rod, 10 mm "ski" under the diff. It comes in a kit with a very beefy steering protection plate.

This combo works great, and you can basically forget about the steering and diffs and drive into anything without worry.

ANYONE able to cut, bend and weld 10mm steel can copy them easily, if you don't fancy importing 100lbs of steel from Finland.

Not too sure if you guys can do this, but I simply went to the wreckers and got a track bar from a "600 series" Dodge Wagon (HUGE trucks).

Then I chopped it, rewelded, strengthened, and bored out the ball-joint holes in the hub case, used the TWICE larger new ball joints, and installed. Jacked the rig up on it without a problem. Cost of ALL this was less than the 2 LR ball joins I was going to change. :D

The QT stuff is kindo of what I'm looking for....just checked with a buddy that does some racing related fab work....thinks he should be able to make up what I'm suggesting. I'm gonna bring him some photos....just get a little nervous with him, as he doesn't always understand the off-road related stuff....If I don't spell it out for him....I'll end up with the ground clearance of a bmw.

LWG/aloharover
have you got November issue of LRW yet?

If yes then go to page 56
Low and behold for you'll see me!
5pages of the 90 in all its glory!:D