Home made tie rods/ linkage

Any suggestions?

I am thinking all I need to do is use some appropriate sized tubing, weld a nut in the end, and screw in a spherical bearing. What am I oversimplifying?

Any suggestions on lightweight tubing? Sources?

the words "lightweight" and "steering parts" just don't belong in the same sentence. steering, suspension, and brakes are 3 places where a little overkill is a good thing.

I forget what they're called, but instead of welding a nut on the end of the tube, I bought some threaded inserts with a shoulder on them. You insert them into the tube and then weld around the shoulder. It's a much stronger way to go. I'm pretty sure that I got them either from Grainger or McMaster Carr. You can also get them with left handed threads.

fire up the google fu for weldable tube ends. Summit, Jegs, Speedway all carry them or some of the locost people have used 7/8" tubing with 1/4" walls - threads to 5/8" without having to drill it out.

novaderrik wrote: the words "lightweight" and "steering parts" just don't belong in the same sentence. steering, suspension, and brakes are 3 places where a little overkill is a good thing.

Ever held an F-1 steering linkage component?

I didn't say E36 M3ty and weak, I said lightweight.

oldtin wrote: weldable tube ends

Sometimes I just need the right terminology.

What about tubing?

more of the googles if you want swaged tubing - .095 thickness is where I'd be thinking. How heavy of stuff are you dealing with?

oldtin wrote: fire up the google fu for weldable tube ends. Summit, Jegs, Speedway all carry them or some of the locost people have used 7/8" tubing with 1/4" walls - threads to 5/8" without having to drill it out.

Yup, those.

Or you just buy pre-threaded tube of the correct length. Usually runs $10-25 a tube, no worries about your quality of weld (or lack thereof), and it's specifically made for steering and suspension members.

Have Speedway send you a catalog. Much of it is fabricator porn, the rest of it is circle track and hotrod porn. And the prices are MUCH lower than, say, Pegasus.

There are also swaged tube linkages from the circle track world. http://www.qa1.net/qa1_motorsports/circle-track/rod-end-accessories/swaged-tubes-1.html

If you are going to wait for something to be shipped, just order it made to size from Coleman, etc.

Use swaged tubes or if you real like to weld get weld nuts from A&A A&A sells all sorts of cool brackets and other stuff cheaper then i can make it.

http://www.aa-mfg.com/pdshop/shop/search.aspx?page=3&search=weld+nuts&sfield=keywords&sortby=

erohslc wrote: If you are going to wait for something to be shipped, just order it made to size from Coleman, etc.

Link?

I have a selection of left and right hand thread taps. Combine those with a few drill bits and some steel or aluminum tubing of the right size and presto, I can make steering links any length. No welding necessary.

Here's the link to trailing arms, several different types to choose from in steel and aluminum:
http://www.colemanracing.com/Chassis-Suspension-C14.aspx

These are 'cost effective':
http://www.colemanracing.com/Trailing-Arm-Steel-P4052.aspx

I like these:
http://www.colemanracing.com/Trailing-Arm-Swedged-Steel-P4054.aspx

NFI to Coleman, lot's of vendors out there.

Edit: For example, Southwest Speed:
http://www.southwestspeed.com/?sec=view_menu&cat=Suspension&sub=Tubes-Swedged%20and%20Aluminum&ssub=Steel%20Swedged%20Tubes&sssub=!5/8\"%20Threads%20x%207/8\"%20O.D.

Carter

What everyone here said. I got mine from speedway. Easy-peasy to weld up. Also - look around on their site a little - they have a nice setup for adjustable bump steer correction that goes nicely with an outer tie rod that happens to be a rod end. I'll try to dig up a link when I'm not posting from one of these infernal smartphones.

44Dwarf wrote: Use sewage tubes ...

I'm hoping you meant swaged!

SVreX wrote:

44Dwarf wrote: Use sewage tubes ...

I'm hoping you meant swaged!

dam spell check