• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

 

Warning on dogbone, torque rod failure.

Stretch44875

Super Jr. Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
2,958
28
48
Location
Tiro, Ohio
Recently had a dogbone (torque rod) come off the lower left rear axle while driving. This happened on a level stretch of road, about 45 mph. Truck acted like I blew a front tire, and headed straight for the ditch. I was able to control it, and pulled off.

Now for the scary part. If the rod end had failed 50 miles sooner, I would have been flat towing a 20,000lbs broken M108 home. With the broken dogbone, the towed truck would have pushed the M35 right into a jacknife, leading to who knows what. A roll over would not have been out of the question, and loss of life could have easily happened.

I had looked recently at the rod ends, and all of them appeared in the same condition, with no rubber missing, and tight(by hand anyways). The rubber on the broken part was intact, with no wear.

I personally will not trust any truck that hasn't had keepers installed on the dogbones now. I had modified the M108 already, now going to do the M35.

Here's a link the the thread where I did the M108.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce-...od-dogbone-mod-removal.html?highlight=dogbone
 
Last edited:

Warthog

Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
13,775
227
63
Location
OKC, OK
Seems like there has been a rash of dogbone failures lately.

Thanks for bringing this up.
 

Stretch44875

Super Jr. Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
2,958
28
48
Location
Tiro, Ohio
I saw the other thread on it, and noticed his looked like new, and it still came apart. Mine was also in good shape and came apart. Figured I'd post my problem and solution.
 

73m819

Rock = older than dirt , GA. MAFIA , Dirty
Steel Soldiers Supporter
In Memorial
12,196
314
0
Location
gainesville, ga.
the dogbones are part on the PM check list for go/no go truck in the -10, the check requires a pry bar
 

Warthog

Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
13,775
227
63
Location
OKC, OK
the dogbones are part on the PM check list for go/no go truck in the -10, the check requires a pry bar

PM? -10? What in the world are you talking about? You mean I can't just jump in and drive whereever/whenever I want? I thought this was a free country....:razz::razz::razz::razz:

All kidding aside, alot of people do just that.
 

Recovry4x4

LLM/Member 785
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
34,014
1,813
113
Location
GA Mountains
Greetings Dennis. How hard was that end to drill? I have some backups and figure I should start drilling them and replace before a catastrophy.
 

Stretch44875

Super Jr. Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
2,958
28
48
Location
Tiro, Ohio
Pretty easy, don't think the metal was hardened. I put the dogbone back on with a hydraulic cylinder, and it pass the pry bar test. Looks like it never came off.
 

tm america

Active member
2,600
23
38
Location
merrillville in
I have seen some balljoint style before to.I am in the process of making a kit that goes on the bolts that are hold the dogbone brackets to the axle.. The kit will bolt on in about an hour and keep things from coming off if one does fail.. I think the biggest issue is flexing the truck out makes the dry rotted rubber crack and separate from the metal.. If there is a big interest in these kits i might move it higher on my to do list.. I don't know a price but i know they will be about half or less then doing all new dogbone ends.Even with new dogbone i would sleep better knowing that they won't come off even if they fail:razz:
 

Ditch Baby

New member
38
0
0
Location
Palm Bay FL
I was searching around for some other alternatives, been into the whole off roading scene since i was able to drive. The heim joints came into mind first.

I have 8 of these Ballistic Joints on the control arms of my '99 2500 Ram Cummins (4 control arms, one on each end)
Weldable Ballistic Joints & Bushings

Yea they arnt as smooth (edit- as in ride quality, road vibrations are transferred more) as the rubber type ones they replaced, but the difference is hardly noticeable anymore, plus the added performance of them.

they have held up great, but there isnt one large enough for the size of hold on the dog bone brackets.

also remember coming across this-

Bulldog hitch onelink setup--- - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

basically its a "Bulldog" style coupler used for trailers.

bolt in a trailer ball in the dogbone brackets, use these couplers on each end connected with steel tubing.

there are a few variations as you see in that thread, from grader balls to a company they made that pretty "360 joint"

again it lacks the rubber, but as rough as these things are anyway will you really notice it?


Just things ive pondered....
 
Last edited:

khandoh

New member
30
0
0
Location
Warner Robin, GA
Not to hijack this thread, but does anyone know how they managed to snap the dogbone on the 900 wrecker they had at Robins without the EUC a while back?
 
Last edited:
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks