RPG's new Steering Tie Rods!!!!

[surfer]

Yes,

Thanks for the Pictures.

 

[Squatting Dog]

I'll Just add them to your tab

I'll be calling you around Monday 9th to get everything rolling. Figure I am into you guys for $3200+ right now....

-Greg

 

[surfer]

Jarrett,

First forgive my ignorance but do the aluminum threads on each end of the spacer bar measure up to steel ones as far as longevity/strength is concerned. Thanks

 

[RPG]

Jarrett,

First forgive my ignorance but do the aluminum threads on each end of the spacer bar measure up to steel ones as far as longevity/strength is concerned. Thanks

The strength of the thread is porportional to a couple different factors.

1. fine thread vs. corse. Finer thread is stronger because of more thread engagment per lenght of thread.

2.Diamter of thread. Factory thread is (.472") vs. RPG Tie Rod of (.875") for the outer tie rod thread and the inner Tie Rod thread is (.750")

3. Final factor is length of thread engagement. We have maximized the length of thread engagement by design for maximum strength over the OE application.

To put all of this in simple terms. When looking at the overall strength of material vs. material, multiple factors have to be taken into account. Its not really an apple vs. apple strength test because of the factors listed above.

Long story short, you will rip a factory rod apart long before you will an RPG Steering Tie Rod.

 

[surfer]

Jarrett,

Thanks for the info.

 

[RPG]

^^^No problem.

---------- Post added at 02:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 PM ----------

I'll be calling you around Monday 9th to get everything rolling. Figure I am into you guys for $3200+ right now....

-Greg

 

[MarkT]

The strength of the thread is porportional to a couple different factors.

1. fine thread vs. corse. Finer thread is stronger because of more thread engagment per lenght of thread.

2.Diamter of thread. Factory thread is (.472") vs. RPG Tie Rod of (.875") for the outer tie rod thread and the inner Tie Rod thread is (.750")

3. Final factor is length of thread engagement. We have maximized the length of thread engagement by design for maximum strength over the OE application.

To put all of this in simple terms. When looking at the overall strength of material vs. material, multiple factors have to be taken into account. Its not really an apple vs. apple strength test because of the factors listed above.

Long story short, you will rip a factory rod apart long before you will an RPG Steering Tie Rod.

This can't be "proprietary" information... why not just post the actual engineering calculations? It's not that complicated.

Better yet, how about a destruction testing comparison? We'd all like to see that!

Aluminum threads have only roughly half the strength of steel threads... and while the fine thread bolt itself is stronger than a coarse thread bolt, coarse threads are usually used in aluminum because they have deeper threads and therefore are usually less susceptible to stripping. The deeper threads are the major reason a fine thread bolt is stronger than a coarse thread... the deeper threads makes the minor diameter of the bolt smaller... but those deeper threads are an advantage in relatively soft materials like aluminum.

As far as thread engagement, the first thread carries about 34% of the load! And once you go beyond a thread engagement of about 1 1/2 times the diameter of the bolt (for aluminum) the extra length of engagement does very little for strength.

I'd be concerned trusting aluminum threads in this application on a 6000 lb + truck.

Marketing talk is good... but do you have any testing or engineering data to back up the strength claims?

 

[RPG]

This can't be "proprietary" information... why not just post the actual engineering calculations? It's not that complicated.

Better yet, how about a destruction testing comparison? We'd all like to see that!

Aluminum threads have only roughly half the strength of steel threads... and while the fine thread bolt itself is stronger than a coarse thread bolt, coarse threads are usually used in aluminum because they have deeper threads and therefore are usually less susceptible to stripping. The deeper threads are the major reason a fine thread bolt is stronger than a coarse thread... the deeper threads makes the minor diameter of the bolt smaller... but those deeper threads are an advantage in relatively soft materials like aluminum.

As far as thread engagement, the first thread carries about 34% of the load! And once you go beyond a thread engagement of about 1 1/2 times the diameter of the bolt (for aluminum) the extra length of engagement does very little for strength.

I'd be concerned trusting aluminum threads in this application on a 6000 lb + truck.

Marketing talk is good... but do you have any testing or engineering data to back up the strength claims?

Hello MarkT,
I thank you for your question and comments,
Once again, We have taken what we have learned in School and in Racing and applied it to our material choice.
Let's just look at one Trophy Truck in particular and see if you can name it before I mention the owners.

1. HEAVY, HEAVY, HEAVY oh did I mention HEAVY.

2. 4 Wheel Drive (a HUGE INCREASE in tie rod forces over 2wd applications)

3. 900+HP Leon Patton Horse Power

4. Red, Everything Red.. Until Monster came along.

5. Very well funded team.

6. Highly respected designers that made sure the owners made it home safely.

Herbst Motorsports

It was up to Mike Smith to ensure that the Multi-Million dollar vehicles went around the race course safely ensuring that the drivers made it home. Herbst had one of the most open-minded design teams with a great supporting budget. They also used aluminum tie rods on their 2wd vehicles.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee244/gmcwop/Herbst_TieRods2.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee244/gmcwop/Herbst_TieRods1.jpg

Proprietary Information:
I am not willing to disclose true engineering calculations for a few reasons.

1. I would be giving away Knowledge to the internet. If you look hard enough on the internet you will find all of the knowledge but not the forethought on how to apply it. I spent many years studying Engineering in school to be able to create sound designs. Engineering is AWESOME. The machinery handbook is an awesome tool. If you don't have one, go buy two. One for you and one for your best friend, but make sure to write your name in it.. Otherwise yours may come up missing.

2. Could you image how bad I would feel if I posted a Euler Colum Buckling equation, Heat Treatment or axial thread loading equation, which then gave someone the ambition to make tie rod kits and have parts heat treated.. Intentionally I didn't mention Hydrogen Embrittlement.. The kits get onto the road and instantly SNAP.. That would suck... Don't buy Kits from NON-ENGINEERS... (Don't worry, we took care of this.)

Note, Our Aluminum Tie Rods are Anodized Blue. What surface benefits do you get from an anodized surface?? Increases surface hardness..

Destructive testing is fun as long as there are a few requirements met

1. PARTS ARE BROKEN IN A TESTING LAB... Breaking parts in the field or on the race track is not fun.

2. I am not paying the testing lab bill. Anyone on this forum work for Stork Testing Labs in Huntington Beach? Hugo has always taken great care of me, but it is still very expensive. Tooling alone to hold the apparatus would be in the Thousands. Anyone still in College that wants to do a report on this project? I will be happy to supply a set for testing... Cal Poly Pomona has a few BIG Instron's, but they are not calibrated. Still a good tool for comparing the two apparatus.

I think that your values are a little off for thread load bearing %'s.. check that value again. I think that you assumed similar materials. In this application, we have Steel Rod Ends and Aluminum Tie Rods.

Additional Thread engagement is necessary for our application. Remember this is a rod that varies in length. We need to allow our customers to align their trucks.

It is obvious that you have GREAT engineering / real world experiences. I am going to attending the Mojave run this weekend. I look forward to talking with someone like yourself and bounce a few ideas off you.

Corey

 

[BlueSVT]

Looks great installed... Hell, strength aside just the look alone is tempting me!

 

[RPG]

Looks great installed... Hell, strength aside just the look alone is tempting me!

Thanks, they do look good in person. Strength will be just fine.

Let me know if you would ever like to meet up so I can show you a set