bent Travers rods

[pistonbroke]

Hi all, Hey has is it ok to straighten travers rods? After removing my rear axle assembly I noticed my rods were arched about 1 to 2 inches, no kinks or dents just a steady bow. Any thoughts on the best way to do it would be appreciated if it's a doable thing. Tim

[deuce_roadster]

Probably someone put a floor jack under the center. I would turn the whole rear end upside down leaving them attached to the rear and torque tube and somehow support each end so it can't move up and push the highest point of the radius rod with a floor jack reversing the original damage until straight. They are oval shaped and will be difficult to straighten. What year are you dealing with? If long ones like a 40 you might get lucky.
Using heat will probably create a noticeable lump. CAREFUL shrinking might work but I would try bending it back first. My 2 cents.
Good luck.

[Kube]

I have had to straighten these when a good replacement wasn't available. It was a slow, tedious process.
I did this in a press. It took a lot more pressure than I'd initially thought it might. Remember to start working it back to position by starting at the last place the bend happened. In other words, attempt to reverse the damaging process.

[pistonbroke]

They are off my 41 half ton. Thanks for the thoughts

[Lawson Cox]

If they are arched evenly, and it drives okay, it ain't broke. Don't try to fix it. You may make things worse. My 2¢.

[alanwoodieman]

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same as a 40 car, 40 pick up

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

If they are arched evenly, and it drives okay, it ain't broke. Don't try to fix it. You may make things worse. My 2¢.

I agree with this (unless you're "Kube").

[Kube]

If the rods are bent, the car can't travel in a true (straight) line. Mathematically impossible.
Unless of course, they are bent precisely identical to one another. I wonder what the odds of that are?

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by Kube

If the rods are bent, the car can't travel in a true (straight) line. Mathematically impossible.
Unless of course, they are bent precisely identical to one another. I wonder what the odds of that are?

Yeah, I thought of that after I posted. Glad you chimed in to point that out.

[aussie merc]

having spent a lifetime in the repair business i would check the axle alignments 1st they may have been deliberately bent to correct an underlying problem [bent chassis]

[cas3]

I agree they should be straight, but I dont think its a big deal to fix in a press. Quite common when junk yards would pick em up with forks.

[JM 35 Sedan]

I would attempt a straightening process as described by either deuce_roadster or Kube, but try it first w/o the use of heat.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by cas3

I agree they should be straight, but I dont think its a big deal to fix in a press. Quite common when junk yards would pick em up with forks.

It's not a big deal. Just time consuming to do it properly.

[my4dv8]

“Travers rods” ?? Is that an obscure colloquialism for rear radius rods? Well never hear of it down under at least. Don’t hear much down here anyway.

[tubman]

I think he dropped an "e"; "Travers(e)" rods. I took it to mean the Panhard rods on the '40's.

[cas3]

A panhard bar would be an easy fix. The "radius rods" , I assume we are talking about is different because the tubes are tapered, not round. To press without leaving press marks on the tube, one would want a proper jig, and wood blocks with a radius matching the tubes to prevent making flat spots where you press, and another person to eyeball from the end while you pump the press. As Kube stated, time consuming.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by tubman

I think he dropped an "e"; "Travers(e)" rods. I took it to mean the Panhard rods on the '40's.

Ah, shucks. I thought his wife's drapes were too heavy and bent the traverse rod.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by cas3

A panhard bar would be an easy fix. The "radius rods" , I assume we are talking about is different because the tubes are tapered, not round. To press without leaving press marks on the tube, one would want a proper jig, and wood blocks with a radius matching the tubes to prevent making flat spots where you press, and another person to eyeball from the end while you pump the press. As Kube stated, time consuming.

Exactly!

[pistonbroke]

OK, My bad, Radius Rods. I've heard them called both but Radius is correct. Thanks for keeping me on track. Tim