My drag link (the steering link that connects the two steering knuckles together) is fawked...again. Second time in a couple of years. I am tired of this crap so I want to upgrade.

A buddy of mine got a line on some cheap DOM tubing. Can anyone instruct me on what I need to order? Also, what kind of tie rod ends do I need to get? Probably just come chebby ones? Can anyone recommend a particular TRE? Do I need to buy weld-in threads?

I am flying blind here, my rover is 200 miles away, I've never built anything like this, and I need to get the tube order in very soon. I have access to a grinder and a welder.

I am not going to do the tie rod, due to near future steering upgrades.

Thanks.

I don't remember off the top of my head what the specifics are, but the Rover tro is a non standard thread. Revor can tell you the size and pitch and then you can order a RH and LH tap.

If you go to a more common thread like the 7/8" found on GM tre's then you need to ream the stearing tapers to the proper pitch.
http://www.xkut-reamers.com/servlet/the-7/1-dsh-1-fdsh-2%22-TAPER-PER-FOOT/Detail
But the inserts are available.
Hmmm, maybe someone can talk Revor into making Rover threaded inserts. :D
If you go with the GM option you can get some 1.5"x.25 walled DOM and then the 7/8 inserts to fit. Inserts are available from many of the vendors here.
You can also order the TREs from the same vendors or local parts store. I have the Moog numbers around here some where.

BTW the tie rod 'ties together' the stearing knuckles, and it controls toe.
The drag link connects the pittman arm to the stearing arm and controls your steering wheel being centered.

11/16ths -i'll have to lookup the thread pitch



I don't remember off the top of my head what the specifics are, but the Rover tro is a non standard thread. Revor can tell you the size and pitch and then you can order a RH and LH tap.

If you go to a more common thread like the 7/8" found on GM tre's then you need to ream the stearing tapers to the proper pitch.
http://www.xkut-reamers.com/servlet/the-7/1-dsh-1-fdsh-2%22-TAPER-PER-FOOT/Detail
But the inserts are available.
Hmmm, maybe someone can talk Revor into making Rover threaded inserts. :D
If you go with the GM option you can get some 1.5"x.25 walled DOM and then the 7/8 inserts to fit. Inserts are available from many of the vendors here.
You can also order the TREs from the same vendors or local parts store. I have the Moog numbers around here some where.

BTW the tie rod 'ties together' the stearing knuckles, and it controls toe.
The drag link connects the pittman arm to the stearing arm and controls your steering wheel being centered.

Check out the DAP ones, comes with new ends and I have seen them used and abused but not broken.

Aloha,

Thanks a ton. I am gonna go that route. I will forage around here on the site for some 7/8" inserts. I want to run chevy/common TREs. Now I gotta figure out which ones to get that'll fit. Any suggestions in this department?

I am trying to figure out how much to buy. Probably 4 feet? like I said, I don't have the truck handy so I don't know how much I need to get. I am not going to do the link between the pitman arm and steering knuckle (future alterations of the steering at that end, too early to tell what is going to be needed so I am just gonna leave it).

Kevin, I am sure those DAP ones are nice, but I they are TOO PRICEY!! I can probably build this one for under 75 bucks. The DAP one is like, 180. I am sorry but nay, I am not paying an extra 100 bucks.

Once again thanks for the assistance and keep it coming!!

Inserts run about 12$ea plus shipping. The TREs are going to run you about 75$ for a pair.
48" of DOM should be perfect, but in the AM I can measure. It's cold and dark atm :D

http://ballisticfabrication.3dcartstores.com/Tie-Rod-Ends_c_16.html
But again with these you need to ream the steering arms. If you buy the tool I linked above I bet you could turn around and sell it here for 50$ ;)

http://ballisticfabrication.3dcartstores.com/78-18-tpi-Tube-Adapter-Chevy-Tie-Rod-End_p_7-1404.html

The inserts come in various sizes...I said 1.5x.25 wall simply because I know that size exists for both the insert and the DOM. I paid 8$ per foot for the DOM locally, 64$ for 8'

I think the 7/8" GM TRE are ES2010R and ES2010L

Nothing wrong with rover TRE for your application. New "shop soiled" TRE for series are $10 from RDS. A piece of tube to sleave the TR: 15 bucks from the metal yard. $45 bucks has you a pretty burly TR that your truck will have a hard time damaging . . . .

Hmmmm, Ike, you bring up a pretty good point. I started looking at the price of chevy TREs and they are significant. To the point that I would go ahead and consider paying the extra money to get hiem joints.

My main concern now is finding a thread insert for the rover stuff. You say its 11/16th? I'll see what I can do. I'd prefer to go with inserts, my buddies have used said technique on their jeeps and never had another problem after that.

Aloha, thank you for the measurements. Take your time, I wouldn't want you to freeze anything important.

[QUOTE=LR Max;628314

Kevin, I am sure those DAP ones are nice, but I they are TOO PRICEY!! I can probably build this one for under 75 bucks. The DAP one is like, 180. I am sorry but nay, I am not paying an extra 100 bucks.

Once again thanks for the assistance and keep it coming!![/QUOTE]

The DAP kits is BOTH the drag link and tie rod along with greasable joints.

From talking with a number of folks that have run them you do not want to use heims in the steering on a daily driver or even a truck that sees a lot of highway time. Too rough.

Rover TRE thread and pitch has been discussed here before but search doesn't seem to be working for me, just get a blank page.

Regarding Ike's 'idea' to strengthen the existing tie rod.....look here :D
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375699

For the stock Series tie rod, it is 42" long (approximately, the front of the truck is in a snow bank :D ) and it is .889" in diameter.

Ahhh, I looked in my book marks and also found the TRE thread. Stock Rovers are 16 pitch fine thread.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129593

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54926&highlight=taper+thread

thanks Pete - i thought i had that thread bookmarked but didn't :-/

there's some more threads out in gen4x4 re: using inserts vs. threading the DOM directly but i can't find that either :flipoff2: