While driving down the Florida Tpk Sunday, I lost my drag link and almost totaled my Heep! My problem was the lock nut that holds my drag link to the pitmann arm came loose and fell off, thus allowing the link to fall off. This happened at 75mph!! Slammed on the brakes and prayed very quickly! My question is I am using rod ends for my cross over steering and I would like to know what you guys are running for safety straps or rings? In my case a lock nut failed. I will be using a castle nut/cotter pin this time, but I'm worried about rod end failure and the rod end opening up and coming loose from the bolt. Has this ever happened to you? What, if any, has anyone fabbed to help protect drag link from coming loose in case of failure? When this happened my 2 boys (11 & 15) were in the Heep, needless to say it scared the beheebers out of us (me, more than they knew..). Any help or pics would be appreciated...TIA.
Robert

I believe that is why rod ends are illegal on steering components in some states, but I think a tie rod end could fail just as easily.

If you could mount your rod ends in double shear you would eliminate some of the stress on the through bolt, and you could use a drag racing safety trick to avoid rod end failing and poking into the ground, basically a strap welded to the tie rod that loops around the rod end and is welded to the tie rod on the other side, of course, that would eliminate being able to adjust your tierod length without unbolting it, unless you made the loop swivel on your tierod somehow.

I think castle nuts and cotter pins, or safety wire would be good start, at least your nuts won't fall off, I would bet your wife would like to crush them right now, if you told her.

I have allways thought heims sucked for the street. I refuse to run them on my steering or vital suspension parts, anti-wrap bar maybe.

Go get some quality TREs and castle nuts.

Thankfully you and your boys are OK!

I think anytime you modify your steering with something that wasn't intended for that use you need to be careful. I would inspect the rod ends periodically, use grade 8 hardware, castlenut or safety wire, and check everything before and after every wheelin' trip or 3000 miles which ever comes first. The Military calls this PMCS (PREVENTATIVE Maintance Checks and Service).

My .02

HOLY SHIT!! I am gonna go home and check mine tongiht! Glad you are ok!

My RE's are on there about two years, no damage to the RE, just lost the lock nut! I've checked that nut a hundred times!! Just never felt 100% safe with RE's on steering, so I check quite often. I'm installing castle nut w/cotter pin tonight! Gonna try to use large washer just above the nut in case of RE failure (bearing dropping out).
Anyone have pictures of safety straps??
Have seen on race cars b4--but looking for something maybe I could fab myself. Someones gotta be running something for safety purposes? Any special requirements in Rock Crawling events out west??

BTW....the wife must really love me...cause she didn't kick my ass
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This time!!!!

One of the good reasons OEM's use a tapered fit TRE and a castle nut / cotter pin.

If ya drive at 75, you would do well to emmulate them