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Get
professional alignment after install... |
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A
short time ago, I got the chance to install and test a new tie
rod manufactured by Challenger Performance Products.
This tie rod, unlike most "heavy duty" variations,
was advertised to be flexible. The rod would flex upon impact
with rocks and other objects, and immediately restore itself
after the collision. Honestly, I was skeptical. Without considering
the advantages of having a tie rod that was designed to bend,
I found myself presuming that the term "flexible"
was synonymous with the terms "weak" or "flimsy".
It was not long after I acquired the tie rod that I reconsidered
what I boldly and naively assumed. Pun intended, Challenger
Performance's "Alumi-Flex Tie Rod" set me straight. |
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The "Alumi-Flex
Tie Rod" is made out of special-treated aircraft aluminum
that is designed to minimize potential fatigue when bending.
The
tie rod is said to be very spring-like and resilient, so after
a deflection of up to 6" it will return back to its original
shape and condition. After I inspected and installed this
tie rod for the first time, I determined that although it
was supposedly flexible, it was rigid, beefy, and moderately
light. It also gets style points for being very shiny. The
tie rod comes with two jamb nuts to replace the clamps on
the stock tie rod, and secure its position on the tie rod
ends.
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1
- Before |
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After
I had it installed and aligned at OK Auto, 4wd & Tire, I drove
around with it for a couple weeks, and did not experience
any problems such as bumpsteer. This met my expectations.
Next, I set out to bend it. Although my test platform was
very crude, it proved extremely effective. I used a couple
of wooden blocks, the jack that came with my TJ, and a rag
to not scuff up the stylish finish - leave that to the rocks.
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2
- Mild Bend |
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I
began jacking it up a little... just a couple inches, and then
I brought the jack back down, and it was straight as can be.
I gained confidence and really started to turn the jack up high.
With each turn, I experienced more resistance. Finally, the
tie rod was showing a very significant arc. I was encountering
pretty much resistance, and to prevent parts from flying off,
I decided to stop raising the jack. |
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3
- Final Bend |
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At this
point, an extreme amount of force was being transferred from
the tie rod, through the tie rod ends, and into the steering
knuckles. While the tie rod might have previously acted like
a fuse, this "Alumi-Flex Tie Rod" was not. That
is something to consider when presented with a similar scenario
on the trail... something has to give, so consider carrying
extra tie rod ends.
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One thing
I immediately noticed was the perfect arc that had formed.
The top surface of the jack is roughly 2" wide. The amount
of area on the tie rod that is being forced upon is relatively
small. The force seemed to be distributed throughout the entire
length of the rod, and it didn't seem like it was even close
to being creased by the pressure from the top of the jack.
Next, I slowly turned the jack down and watched the tie rod
neatly fall into its original position, seemingly unscathed
from the rigors I've willed upon it. It was perfectly straight.
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4
- After |
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Throughout
the test, the tie rod seemed to possess many uncanny physical
properties. I began to wonder if this space-age material was
found at the UFO crash site in Roswell, New Mexico, and was
being used to manufacture tie rods for four-wheelers. |
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In
theory, all metal tie rods, despite composition, will suffer
from some form of fatigue as a result of a bend from a collision
with a rock or a stump. It is my belief that of all of the tie
rods out there, this one is probably most resistant to fatiguing
from such an impact, especially multiple and repetitive impacts.
Could I have bent it if I tried? Probably, but due to other
obtrusive suspension and steering components, it would take
a jack-shaped object to push only the tie rod any further than
I did in my test, which I feel was extremely conclusive. |
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No
more tie rod trail fixes... |
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I
cannot account for long-term use of this tie rod, because it
is so new, but I personally feel that it is a great product
that should definately be considered by all four-wheelers, and
if you're a bad spotter, it makes a great gift! |
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Chris
Shontz is a staff writer for ROCKCRAWLER.com and resides in
East Earl, PA. Chris spends most of his time trying to bend
and break things.
Contact
Chris at cshontz@rockcrawler.com
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