Hi all
How difficult would it be to shorten Track rods??
Are the arms hardened, would it be difficult to cut one half and extend the thread (the right hand thread part obviously)
I'm wanting to narrow the front track by 6 to 8 cms

Cheers
Boggy

What are you intending to do about the position of the suspension arms? Are you going to shorten the axle tube as well? Otherwise you might find that the tracking is a bit out: \ /

Driveshafts would need shortening, too.

The only way I can really see the narrowing work is to shorten the axle or to completely remake the arms (not that bad - Louis Barbour already makes rear arms from scratch) - but shortening the axle would require the chassis to be narrowed, too...

Unless this is just a 2cv rack/axle being used on something else entirely?

I wouldn't have thought it'd be the end of the world to cut and re-thread the existing track rods - but, if they are being used with 2cv arms on a narrowed axle, the angle at the rack end might also need to be re-angled, which'd probably have a knock-on to the steering geometry itself.

I am looking at removing the stub axles stortening the suspension arms and turning and rewelding the stubs back in, as the suspension will be lowered and need to reset the castor angle anyway. No problem shortening the driveshafts as I already have shorter ones. I have read a few articles on doing this but no-one says what they did with the track rods
Cheers
Boggy

If you're 'restoring' the kingpin inclination to suit lowered suspension ( as in 2CV racer style) the need, if any, for shortening the track rod length is likely to be much less than you might think.

Just a thought, aren't track rods for AKs, Acads and Amis shorter than 'normal' ones, or am I losing the plot?

ken

Exactly Ken but also reducing the track on the front by 6-8cms will make a difference surely?
Are the track rods hardened can they be threaded???
Cheers
Boggy

As you probably know from racing, or those cr#p drivers who end up bouncing off kerbs when it's icy, the track rods do bend and can also be straightened, so they may well be mild steel.
Only one thing for it, buy a tap and have a go...

ken

p.s. 'Steering arms' are the parts bolted to the hub carrier and they have a ball on the end, 'track rods' are the parts you trip over if you don't bother to remove them from a rack.

Ken just re-read your post and noticed the bottom line (should have gone to specsavers) Off into barn to measure up some AK arms

Cheers
Boggy

Ok measured on AK 400 and they seem to be 10mm shorter.
Acadiane and Ami....any advance on 10mm

Cheers
Boggy

Larger diameter, though, so you'd need to pair them with the track rod ends, which'd get the length back to "normal".