Life at 20 hundred RPM.

[gimpyrobb]

Back in June I broke a bunch of dog bones on my truck. I have since installed the 2 new DBs I had here already, and I ordered new inserts from Real Custom Trucks. Teds a great guy and met me half way to deliver. This was a project that required the use of a press to push out the old inserts and push in the new ones. I knew I wanted to drill and tap them before installation:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?33684-Torque-rod-dogbone-mod-and-removal&highlight=
So I took care of that one weekend, the next weekend I found a 20ton press on craigslist and got to work. A buddy and I managed to get 4 swapped out in one night so that left 2 to do the following weekend. We(I) was smart enough to do the front bottom and top 2 while I had help, so the other 2 weren't too bad. After that, I had to fix the brake line. When my DB let go, the rear axle walked backward and let the driver side spring pack fall onto the brake line!

Today I decided it wanted to take her for a spin(its been sitting TOO long). I still haven't made the washers to bolt on the DBs but I can add those at any point since I've drilled and tapped the rod ends. I left about 8:30 and had so much fun I didn't get home till 11:15. While out and about I noticed we were cruising at 20 hundred rpm, hope you all get out and try it too.

 

[Recovry4x4]

20 hundred is plenty fast with the big ole tires you run. Glad you got to put a smile on your face. Since you beat the silly snot out of that truck, you might reconsider the washers as a secondary retention device..When you twist it up off road those links are going to twist on the rubber and probably either bend the washer or worse, damage the rubber. Consider bolting on a piece of square or round stock oriented horizontally across end. This vid is what I picture once you got it on the road.
https://youtu.be/WCK0WsH0wKE

 

[Coffey1]

You go Gimp and like Kenny said put something other than washers.
My 5 ton had solid square stock across and absolutely no problems

 

[gringeltaube]

.....When you twist it up off road those links are going to twist on the rubber and probably either bend the washer or worse, damage the rubber. Consider bolting on a piece of square or round stock oriented horizontally across end.......

Very true!
A piece of flat-stock, 1-1/4"×1/4"×L=3-1/2", works well. During extreme articulation the ends may bend slightly outward, but that's OK; it still will prevent the rubber from popping off.

The (sectional)drawing below gives a good idea of what that end bushing looks like, at maximum flex (+/- 15 deg axle articulation).



G.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Don't worry, the pieces of round stock that were welded on while at haspin snapped off(welder was only a 110 unit) so that illustrated the need for something stout. My washers will be up to the task, YEAH-MON!

 

[clinto]

I could have sworn I have seen a picture here on SS of the Canadian MLVW that used a zinc plated (gold) cone shaped washer, bolted to the torque rod that was designed to serve the same purpose you're after, retaining the rod in the event of bushing failure. I just spent 30 minutes looking for it, I know it's out there but I can't find it.

I did find a picture of an MLVW with another style of washer, it's flat and similar to your rectangle. Apparently the Canadian military thought this was sufficient.