Holy relay rod! What the hell?!

[scouthead]

This ever happen to anyone?
My friend was about to take his '96 LX450 out for the maiden voyage since the lift, and... scuff scuff scuff.... tire dragging a bit.... ???? Barely made it out of my driveway and the relay rod turned into a noodle! It was already bent as a result of an accident (prior owner) but he (new owner) had already driven it a mile or two before we rebuilt/ lifted the truck... I had thought, "we'll just straighten that out a bit later". Are these relay rods really so weak that any little ding or bend from a rock could cause it to fold in half? Or should I be looking for something wrong with this rig that could have caused this ?

As it sits now this thing is wearing a SLEE 4 inch lift, a new front axle (new to this truck - the old one was in bad shape, new seals/ knuckle bearings) preload on the knuckles was a bit high but still within specs. With the front end on jackstands (while lifting) I'm pretty sure it turned freely from side to side, so the only thing I can think of is that the bow that was in it from the wreck weekened it enough to where it just gave. The truck was getting the wheels turned while on dry pavement ,without rolling, when this happenened...

 

[bpassmore]

this is what happens when you bend a relay rod.

You can not straighten them out with out bracing them. they lose structural rigidity as soon as they bend.

I did this to my 67 Brocno. just before the hi steer

 

[NLXTACY]

Yeah I dont think welding angle iron to that is going to help much

 

[OGBeno]

You can not straighten them out with out bracing them. they lose structural rigidity as soon as they bend.

Negative. You can bend that back pretty easily since it is hollow by whapping it against a tree or other such structure and get it reasonably straight--at least enough to drive back home.

I would heat up a good length of that rod, smash it a few times (really hard--as if you were trying to hit a home run) and then try to see if it will fit.

I've seen it in action and it worked.

Not the best fix, but it'll get ya home.

 

[bpassmore]

Negative. You can bend that back pretty easily since it is hollow by whapping it against a tree or other such structure and get it reasonably straight--at least enough to drive back home.

I would heat up a good length of that rod, smash it a few times (really hard--as if you were trying to hit a home run) and then try to see if it will fit.

I've seen it in action and it worked.

Not the best fix, but it'll get ya home.

It will get you home, I meant that you can not trust it long term.

 

[OGBeno]

It will get you home, I meant that you can not trust it long term.

Agreed.

 

[-Spike-]

I'd take a good look at that truck. I've bent mine on a trail by trying to push a rock out of the way, but not that severely. I completed the run and then drove the truck home (~65 miles) before I realized it was bent. It had maybe a 2 inch bow to it- but it held that shape. Seems odd that this one would bend severely like that just under it's own power.

BTW, I straightened mine 2 years ago and am still running it. I would probably replace the one pictured though.

-Spike

 

[scouthead]

Not the best fix, but it'll get ya home.

Good to know, but I like my way better... walk back to garage, drag floorjack to stranded vehicle (30 feet), jack up one tire and aim the front end...

It was a grueling trial, but it made it all the way back up the driveway. Wheew!

!

 

[LC80Ducati996]

Just order a better rod from slee and have it shipped fast.. Bolt it on then your friends 80 is fixed right and out of your garage!

 

[jonheld]

BTDT several times. Replaced both the relay rod and tie rod with BudBuilt units. They don't bend.

 

[nuclearlemon]

i've bent a few. one on my 80 and two on 40s

 

[scouthead]

Just order a better rod from slee and have it shipped fast.. Bolt it on then your friends 80 is fixed right and out of your garage!

That would be a hard thing to convince him to do... it took five or six weeks to get all the parts for his lift (and all the parts that were wrong or that slee shorted us) rounded up and installed on his truck. At least customer service jerked him around and did nothing but try and piss him off the whole time. He'll never do buisiness with them again. To bad, most of the stuff we put on his car looked pretty nice (although I'm not sure any of it was actually made at slee offroad...)

I've got a plan to make things right. I'll post a pic next week when it all gets sorted out.

 

[bpassmore]

Wow. this is the first Slee rant I have seen. Most of the time they have a great reputation here.

 

[calstyl2]

That would be a hard thing to convince him to do... it took five or six weeks to get all the parts for his lift (and all the parts that were wrong or that slee shorted us) rounded up and installed on his truck. At least customer service jerked him around and did nothing but try and piss him off the whole time. He'll never do buisiness with them again. To bad, most of the stuff we put on his car looked pretty nice (although I'm not sure any of it was actually made at slee offroad...)

I've got a plan to make things right. I'll post a pic next week when it all gets sorted out.

Wow, Slee offers up pretty damn good service, I would talk to Christo about your issues.

As far as the rods, Marlin makes them and they are stout too, I run them........good price too

 

[Land Speeder]

I've beat my rod like it owes me money. Too many times. It looks like a camels back now. I've since hammered a welding rod into it to make it "solid" and haven't had issues with this and that's been a few years now.

You can certainly straighten them out and continue using them to a certain extent. It will obviously loose integrity with each bend, but whatev. But to bend it once, naw, it's not a drive shaft.

 

[scouthead]

Wow, Slee offers up pretty damn good service, I would talk to Christo about your issues.

I believe my friend had the worst time while dealing with christo personaly. I was warned about him having a less that peachy attitude by several people here in the southland. I steered my friend in his direction anyway, and I feel kind of bad for all the crap he went through, but I still think the lift kit looks like a decent product. Will have to see how it performs.

 

[PKP80]

new Rod, DOM (which will allow you to bend it back in confidence should you need to)

 

[MaddBaggins]

I believe my friend had the worst time while dealing with christo personaly. I was warned about him having a less that peachy attitude by several people here in the southland. I steered my friend in his direction anyway, and I feel kind of bad for all the crap he went through, but I still think the lift kit looks like a decent product. Will have to see how it performs.

Interesting. Any time I've ever talked to Christo or any of his people, They've always been helpful and forthcoming with any info and advice. I still remember when I called Christo 4-1/2 years ago to order my lift, he joke around saying I couldn't lift my truck. Caught me off guard for a minute. He's a good guy.
Sorry your buddy has had issues.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Originally Posted by scouthead
I believe my friend had the worst time while dealing with christo personaly. I was warned about him having a less that peachy attitude by several people here in the southland. I steered my friend in his direction anyway, and I feel kind of bad for all the crap he went through, but I still think the lift kit looks like a decent product. Will have to see how it performs.

I am aware of this customers issue and was in personal contact with them. I am sorry that he felt that we could not resolve the issue in the best possible way we could at the time. I don't want to get involved with a pissing match on a forum, but I will again apologize for any inconvenience this caused him. Some of the factors that lead to this was simply out of our control.

 

[sleeoffroad]

To bad, most of the stuff we put on his car looked pretty nice (although I'm not sure any of it was actually made at slee offroad...)

That is true, the kit contains machined parts the we subcontract out to various vendors. We simply don't have the resources to invest in state of the art CNC mills and lathes. It is not uncommon to do this in our industry.