Relay Rod End Temporary Fix?

[npicciandra]

Heard a pop coming up a trail last night on the way home, lost all steering control. I got out, and sure enough, the ball joint had popped out of the relay rod end, and it didn't look pretty inside. I ordered replacement parts from Toyota, but it's going to be a few days before they get here.

I'm out in the Virgin Islands, and there's not a 4x4 wrecker service that will be able to make it down the steep trail, so my buddy and I are going to go down there with his Wrangler in a while and try to figure out how to drag it up the trail, and possibly home if we can figure out a way to get it to steer just long enough to make it to the house.

The ball joint is still in the pitman arm, but the socket in the rod end looks pretty mangled, as if the parts have been chewing up for a while.

I guess what I'm wondering is, would there be any way to lash or secure the pittman arm to the knuckle just long enough to make it maybe 5-6 miles?

Anyone have any experience with this and have some advice?

 

[klinetime574]

Lots of duck tape and some thick bailing wire might do the trick.

I think I've seen photos of that done before...

 

[Mace]

Yep, use an entire roll of duct tape. That will probably get you off the trail and to a safe place. DO NOT trust it on the road tho. It can fail anytime. Adding some paracord or bailing wire to the mix would help significantly as well.


BTW, the more bizzare and colorful the duct tape is, the stronger it'll be. I suggest pink camo. The truck will be too embarrassed to fail before you get home.
I have found that embarrassing the truck during trail fixes is a good incentive to not fail again..

 

[npicciandra]

Well, used the bottle jack to re-seat the ball joint and then lashed it in place with some audio cable (all I had on me). Made it home, safe and sound.

 

[micruz60]

Good news, that.
Mace: "embarrassing the truck during trail fixes is a good incentive to not fail again..."
I'm gonna have to try that next time I have a breakdown on the trail!!

 

[micruz60]

Good news, that.
Mace: "embarrassing the truck during trail fixes is a good incentive to not fail again..."
I'm gonna have to try that next time I have a breakdown on the trail!!

 

[lehiguy]

So in theory, I just need to keep a Jeep sticker in the glove box with the idea that if I break down I apply said sticker. I think it will work!