It is not strong, it is bent and once something is bent no matter how straight you get it you will never regain the origional strength; period.

If you want to run it as is for a while weld a chunk of angle over it to regain rigidity otherwise you are going to bend it again.

Also, don't forget to re-align it because even if it straight to the eye chances are it is not straight to the world.

Electric Stooge said:

its ERW DOM tubing. its not the stock set-up. (not the use of "tie-rod" and I drive a XJ)

BUT! The tube will still get toucher tested before it goes to the Badlands

AND the jeep will be aligned properly.

(and strait to the world gives me death wobble, for a 231 t-case setup, you would want a slight toe-in due to the front wheels being a "drag" which will pull them strait while driving on the highway)

 

I have to call you out on something that is bent back isnt strong. Most metal will hold a memory of its original state at a micro level. which is why they can straiten frames with a puller after a collision, and retain the original strength of the frame.

as long as the tube isnt kinked (which I made sure it wasn't) it will hold its strength.

 

not to mention that this jeep might end up being my dd as soon as I get the money for a trail rig. Im not worried

It does not matter what kind of tubing it is, it is not as strong as it was prior ot being bent out of, and then back into, shape; this is a basic property of pretty much all metal.

If you require toe-in to have a stable ride at speed then you have other issues in your front end.  Toe is not supposed to be the adjusment that helps keep things centered and 'pulled' (incedentily toe in does not create a feeling of extrra stability by pulling anything, it is actually pushing the tires in opposing directions increasing drag, tire wear and fuel use.) straight; that is the job of caster, you know, like the catser wheel on a chopping cart.  Your alignment should be no different for a 231 as from any other t-case and I would like you to show me where it is published otherwise; I have aligned numerous Jeeps and found that they are perfectly OK with minimal to zero toe.

A pulled frame is not as strong as it was before it was pulled back into shape.  Materials, with the exception of a few low memory plastics, do not retain some magic memory of their origional chape to which they can be returned  In fact any metal that has been bent will experiance stretching or shrinking; this is what makes it so hard to pop a bad dent back to the oridional shape because the steel is stretched and there is no too much material to assume the origional shape which leads to waves in the area where.  this problem is why there is such a thing as shrinking discs and realy old body manuals will show you how to remove dents with a torch and a damp rag (It really works on stuff built like a tank in the 40's!).  This is also why beniding angle iorn or any flanged sheet requires a shrinker or stretcher depending in if it is an inside or outside bend.

It is completely untrue that the tube will hold it's origional strength after being bent; show me where you can find info to the contrary.

Listen, I get that you hate me and I get that this is not what you want to hear but it does not change the fact that it is true.  You need to get over your ego and realize that you don't actually know everything; even in the short time I have been on this site I have seen you troubleshoot things in the wrong directions and otherwise prove that while you may be mechanically inclined and intelligent you lack a lot of experiance and refuse to listen to anyone who does not share your views.

How many tie rods have you bent, repaired and re-repaired?  When your count passes 7 or 8 then come and tell me how wrong I am.

How many sets of steering linkage have you built and then run into rocks without serious damage?  When you do 4 or 5 then tell me how wrong I am.

How long have you been getting paid to build things ot of steel or repair stuff made out of steel?  Get a few years under your belt and come back and tell me how wrong I am.

Post edited 4:59 am – April 28, 2010 by notoriousDUG

Electric Stooge said:

certified mig welder, apprentice die maker, worked 2 jobs before going back to school. I still have a knowledge base that I hit up on the questionable projects. and I consider all suggestions, even yours.

 

but Ive been doing the best with what I got to work with. I don't exactly have the money to go out and buy the new stuff. Or do I have the equipment to build new stuff. I got just enough to repair what I have, and do a few custom jobs when necessary.

 

Do you really want to compare resumes?

I will if you really want to…

Doing the best with what you have and sitting around thinking that your bent tie rod is as strong as what it was before are two different things.   Plate it witha chunk of angle and stop having to worry about it.