radius rods/steering arm dimensions

[tylercrawford]

Roo,

What are the usual size and wall thickness for the radius rods on a standard torsion bar setup?  Seen 3/4 x .065" in a couple of different places.  Also what is the standard size/thickness from the pitman arm coming off the output shaft from the box to the spindle?

I've got a couple of freebie drops from a friend of mine and was wondering if I could use them BUT they are 304 stainless.  The sizes I got for free are 7/8 x .049" (radius rods?) and 1" x .049" (steering arm?)

I know 304 is probably 70-75% the strength of 4130 but didn't know if you or anyone had used them without a problem.

 

[rooman]

Tyler,
       the most common material for radius rods is 3/4" x .058. The same material is common for drag links but on my 225" cars I use 7/8" x .058 for the long link from the box to where the forward link attaches. I also use 3 slider brackets on my NT/F cars and run a short link from the box to just ahead of the mid plate to make a 3 piece link with the sliders at either end and in the middle of the center link.

Roo

[tylercrawford]

hmm . . . do you think 304 is up to the task or should I just spend the $30 or whatever for 4130?  Not really sure what the threshold is for the compression strength required for this deal.

[rooman]

I would go with the 4130--use the money that you saved by not having to buy a line up bar--LOL

Roo