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Posted by: johnnie5 Dec 30 2008, 02:22 AM

Hey everyone,
Just finishing up my 5 lug conversion with all new struts, shocks, springs, sway bar, etc. Car is not yet back on the road and someone mentioned today I should incorporate turbo tie rods into my upgrade before alignment. Is the diference in steering that drastic/worth it to warrant the change? If so, where would I look into getting my hands on some? How much?

Posted by: degreeoff Dec 30 2008, 06:07 AM

yes...no more soft rubber connections...yes yes yes yes yes it uses a ball joint on the inside VS rubber

Posted by: blitZ Dec 30 2008, 07:17 AM

It's very worthwhile. Just make sure you get the set with the Lemforder tie rod ends. The others are crap.

Posted by: Joe Ricard Dec 30 2008, 08:14 AM

My car had stock rubber tie rods when I bought it. The rubber was in good shape. I swapped to turbo rods because I had some in a box.
Much better connection to the road.

Then a year later I got rid of the rubber donut in the steering shaft. I replaced it with an additional U-joint. Steering got immensely more positive.

Bump steer became more pronounced until I re-aligned everything.

Posted by: J P Stein Dec 30 2008, 08:26 AM

>Is there a major difference in steering?<

No.
If your stock rods are shot there would be.

Posted by: rdauenhauer Dec 30 2008, 11:01 AM

QUOTE(Joe Ricard @ Dec 30 2008, 06:14 AM)

Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Dec 30 2008, 11:44 AM

QUOTE(rdauenhauer @ Dec 30 2008, 09:01 AM)

QUOTE(Joe Ricard @ Dec 30 2008, 06:14 AM)

Then a year later I got rid of the rubber donut in the steering shaft. I replaced it with an additional U-joint. Steering got immensely more positive.
Bump steer became more pronounced until I re-aligned everything.

Joe this is interesting Got any further description or Pics?

Posted by: Gint Dec 30 2008, 01:00 PM

Every 914 I've had either already had turbo tie rods or I didn't put a set on that particular car. I personally installed a set on one 914. I drove it both before and after the conversion. The original tie rods were in good condition. Afterwards I didn't notice a difference at all.


There is quite literally a rubber donut in the shaft. It couples the shaft to the rack. I don't have a pic handy.

QUOTE(Phoenix 914-6GT @ Dec 30 2008, 10:44 AM)

It would be nice to see what you're talking about with the donut

Posted by: Joe Ricard Dec 30 2008, 01:01 PM

Lower middle of page 2
http://www.smartracingproducts.com/pdfcat/srp2008_frontaxle.pdf

Posted by: Dave_Darling Dec 30 2008, 01:16 PM

A friend of mine replaced the tie rods in his SC when the bushings were shot. Huge difference. So he decided to upgrade the tie rods on his GF's SC, even though those were in good shape. No difference that either one could tell.

--DD

Posted by: rdauenhauer Dec 30 2008, 04:25 PM

QUOTE(Joe Ricard @ Dec 30 2008, 11:01 AM)

Posted by: ericread Dec 30 2008, 04:34 PM

There'a a guy in another "club" site that's making billet replacements for the rubber steering "donuts". They are available in both standard size and a shortened size for bump-steer.

Mine's on order for a standard size.

Eric Read

Posted by: Gint Dec 30 2008, 06:49 PM

QUOTE(ericread @ Dec 30 2008, 03:34 PM)

Posted by: dlestep Dec 30 2008, 07:24 PM

...the interface dampener on the steering shaft...

Posted by: ericread Dec 30 2008, 09:42 PM

Here's you links:

http://www.914club.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=116207

http://www.914club.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=122651

Posted by: TC 914-8 Dec 31 2008, 12:14 AM

Hey, that looks like a good first project for Degreeoff with his new Lathe and Milling machine, Make a Billet Aluminum steering donut.