flexy aluminum tie rod

[Pete M]

anyone running one?  I'm thinking about recommending it for my uncle's XJ build (since it's not easy to flip the tie rod on a JK axle and it hangs down pretty low). 

 

 

[Jeep Driver]

What is that pic of? Where can I find the rest of the story? I'm interested in the sway bar.

[Rockfrog]

That's a JK

[Pete M]

yup.  the axles I'll be working with are from a rubicon JK so I swiped a pic from the page I was on. 

 

for a JK at least, the tierod bar and ends are $300.  Apparently the bar is practically impossible to bend.  It always snaps right back to straight.  I want one on every build I do. :D

[89eliminator]

who makes it?  teraflex has a setup similar for XJs that bends pretty easily.  

[Rockfrog]

Aluminum work hardens easily, it will "snap back" only to certain extent, go past that point, or do it too often ... It'll bend and stay.

[Rockfrog]

A good thick steel DOM tube will bend less, cost less (both to purchase and fabricate), and won't off the excitement of threads pulling out either. Just my opinion on it.

[Crash]

IF you plan to run crossover steering on an XJ/MJ 30, Clayton offroad makes the steering links and sells other parts for WJ/crossover steering setup. 

[Rockfrog]

Pete, I'm just curious why the JK flip is more difficult? Are you leaving the drag link under still?

My WJ knuckles (on the XJ, still collecting bits for the MJ swap) use similar steering arrangement, reemed them for GM ends OTK without issue. But if you're wanting to keep the drag link under ... Yeah, not so simple there.

[Incommando]

yup.  the axles I'll be working with are from a rubicon JK so I swiped a pic from the page I was on. 

 

for a JK at least, the tierod bar and ends are $300.  Apparently the bar is practically impossible to bend.  It always snaps right back to straight.  I want one on every build I do. :D

Make sure you truss that front axle. The have the same bending  issues the JK D30 does. It may help being under a lighter jeep.

[Pete M]

I'm definitely trussing it. :yes:

 

The rational behind the flexy aluminum is that I'm kinda building a desert racer.  kinda.  My uncle wants a rig that will survive contact with a rock or whatever he finds while bounding across the wyoming prairie at 40 mph.  I'll never be asking it to survive repeated deflections like rock crawlers see, just the occasional "what the hell was that!" when he's miles away from help.

 

from what I've read, there isn't room to flip the tierod up.  But I will be flipping the drag link.  I don't have the axles yet, so I can't verify how close it is.

 

Rock Krawler and Carolina Metal Masters sell them.

 

 

found a video: