track rod modification

[GeezerGarage]

I have been looking at the space I have to fit airbags to my beetle and it is tight at the DS on the front because the tracking rod gets in the way, now the easyest way I see of fixing this is to make a new rod out of stronger material but with a curve in it.

is this one legal and two safe?

have any of you tried something simmilar or modified your rods?

thanks
Stephan

[kee]

make it out of cds like roll cage tubing and you should be fine
don't take just my word for it though, lets have a few responses first ;D

[CIH]

You'll need to be careful as either the track-rod end (TRE) or hub where it attaches is responsable for ensuring the wheels see the correct toe angle on turns (TOOT).
Think why a car needs a diff.
It could also cause bump-steer.
A good wheel alignment session should be to correct, or atleast confirm any TOOT issues. Otherwise, it'll munch tyres and fast-fit monkeys will try to sell you a tracking.

There may be aftermarket TREs suitable for your needs.

[rodit]

Is it the complete track rod or would a curved trackrod end help the angle enough?
Many of the newer motors (saxo is one off the top of my head), have curved tre if these were the correct thread could this help?

[kee]

for tube you could use an in-situ adjuster from rally design, will sort any tracking issues out.
just need to make sure the distance from each mounting hole is the same as the original

[stealthstylz]

As long as the relationship between the pivot point on the rack and the mounting lug on the hub remain the same the piece that joins them can take whatever route it wants.

Matt

[purplevanman]

Oct 18, 2008 20:30:24 GMT kee said:

make it out of cds

what sort of glue would you use?


;D ;D

[kee]

;D

[mattblack]

Surely if you have a curved trackrod that clears the airbag when the steering is in the straight ahead position it will foul when you turn the steering...?

Or am I missing something?

[nobody]

not up on beetles but are they like normal cars ;D ;D

if you put a curve in how do you do fine adjustments for tracking.

as said above.
you need to be carefull that bits don't rub on full lock.

maybe a complete redesign of the front end is needed to make it all work safely.

[GeezerGarage]

Oct 18, 2008 20:30:24 GMT kee said:

make it out of cds like roll cage tubing and you should be fine
don't take just my word for it though, lets have a few responses first ;D

coolio, thought summat like that

Oct 18, 2008 20:33:48 GMT CIH said:

You'll need to be careful as either the track-rod end (TRE) or hub where it attaches is responsable for ensuring the wheels see the correct toe angle on turns (TOOT).
Think why a car needs a diff.
It could also cause bump-steer.
A good wheel alignment session should be to correct, or atleast confirm any TOOT issues. Otherwise, it'll munch tyres and fast-fit monkeys will try to sell you a tracking.

There may be aftermarket TREs suitable for your needs.

i'll have a little look see if i find anything alho dunno about compatabilities as it's an early beetle. i would not have dif probs as it's a rwd.

Oct 18, 2008 20:35:04 GMT rodit said:

Is it the complete track rod or would a curved trackrod end help the angle enough?
Many of the newer motors (saxo is one off the top of my head), have curved tre if these were the correct thread could this help?

can i see one?

Oct 19, 2008 8:15:54 GMT mattblack said:

Surely if you have a curved trackrod that clears the airbag when the steering is in the straight ahead position it will foul when you turn the steering...?

Or am I missing something?

yeah it's not a major mod, i'll show you when i start fetlin.

Oct 19, 2008 8:54:29 GMT @nobody said:

not up on beetles but are they like normal cars ;D ;D

if you put a curve in how do you do fine adjustments for tracking.

as said above.
you need to be carefull that bits don't rub on full lock.

maybe a complete redesign of the front end is needed to make it all work safely.

the tracking is set so i would just clone the distance between tr centers. it is more or less the only way considering i already have a tonne o goodies up there from the WBX conversion.



thanks for the replies dude's. much appretiaed.