Ironic Quadrasteer update

steppetoe · November 3, 2003

A little while back I told you folks about my very positive experience off-roading with my QSteer truck. I did mention that one must be careful of those tie rod ends while off-road. Well, I should have mentioned to also be careful of them while reversing into a driveway.

Short story:

I'm house hunting, backing into an unfamiliar driveway, sizable rock that I didn't see because it was directly behind the truck hidden by the tailgate (yes, I should have checked better but driveways usually don't have stray boulders). Disheartening crunching sound. I get out and check the truck to find left rear tie rod bent into a U shape. Not good. Left rear wheel cockeyed. Truck drives but not well. Steering wheel needs to be held at 30 degree angle to go straight. Funny thing is, the QSteer is working fine, it's just that the wheels are in disagreement about which way the truck is supposed to go.

Someone needs to fabricate some skid plates for the twigs they use for tie rod ends.

To the shop tomorrow. Me not happy

TROYROBO · November 3, 2003

hammer time

Shaners · November 3, 2003

$$$ OUCH $$$

Mega Dogmeat · November 4, 2003

d**n

That sucks

How did the rock bend the things?

LogixRat · November 4, 2003

Bent a tie-rod and piece of my frame once back in high school on a Nissan Sentra. It was a dark and stormy afternoon, and me and a friend was showing off for some girls on the highway. Doin about 80+ in the rain (you know I had it pegged...hehe). Anyhow, hit the exit ramp to follow them and get numbers. Well on the way to slow down the little red beast started hydroplaning all over the exit. Before we finally hit the concrete pier of the light pole, we did what looked like a W on the exit lane.

We was heading straight on for this freak'n pole, and I looked over at my buddy. He had his eyes closed scream'n like a girl. I guess right before we hit the pole, the curb must have jolted the car just enough to hit the front passenger side tire. We got out of the car lucky to be alive, and shook it off. At first I thought things were good (just a dented fender) and then we went to drive off and that's when I noticed the steering like you said. Got her pulled into a nearby gas station and crawled up under it and saw all the damage.

Needless to say, it cost some big bucks and my parents weren't too pleased either. Of course, the real story changed on what really happened...hehe. Not that it really mattered, but the girls did come back to check on us and we got their numbers as we originally intended but never called them because we felt like too big of idiots. Oh, the high school days.

steppetoe · November 4, 2003

d**n

That sucks

How did the rock bend the things?

Rock was just small enough that the bumper must have just cleared it as I was backing up, so it (the rock) rammed right into the tie rod end, right between the rim and the diff. It also took out the e-brake cable. One of those freak things that it had to hit right in the exact wrong spot.