Let’s be honest: while some vehicles are certainly built to handle rough terrain better than others, the one thing that every off roader knows to expect sooner is steering problems.
Nissan’s full-sized Y60 and Y61 Patrols, and D22 Navaras are revered by militaries and off roaders for being some of the hardiest 4WDs ever built, but they’re also known for a range of frontend ills and wobbles that can be attributed to anything from misalignment, to worn wheel or kingpin bearings. If you experiencing questionable feedback and responses from your steering though, chances are that your problems are going to either steering arm, or tie rod related.
Any type of steering-related problem is worthy of immediate attention, but it’s important to know what you’re looking for. And of course, once you’ve identified the problem, you need to be sure that you have the right parts to correct it.
Heavy-Duty Steering Components for Serious Off-Roading
If you’re an avid off roader, you already know the kinds of impacts steering systems are subjected to. Rocks, roots, and ruts deep enough to swallow most tyres can bend steering components like putty if they’re put under enough stress, which is why heavy duty steering arm components, especially draglinks and tie rods, are needed to beef up your steering system.
Signs that you may have damaged an essential steering component are particularly obvious when you’re pulling back onto the highway after off roading, and they might include:
· Severe steering wheel vibration or wobbling, especially in turns;
· Squealing or clunking noises, either when driving straight or turning; and,
· Noticeably pulling to one side during braking or accelerating, or steering wheel drift.
Any of these symptoms can progressively worsen over time, leading to handling characteristics that are unpredictable at best, and outright dangerous at their worst. OE Patrol and Navara steering components simply aren’t built to take the kind of punishment that goes with serious off roading, which is why you want to install the heaviest duty draglinks and tie rods available when you’re doing an upgrade, or replacing damaged components.
Strengthened Draglinks Take the Stress Out of Off-Roading
When it comes to high quality, extra-strength steering components, it’s important to remember that one the greatest attributes of aftermarket parts is their adaptability. The interdependence between steering and suspension systems means that routine enhancements like adding bigger tyres or suspension lifts can place torsional loads on fixed length, OE steering components that they weren’t designed to withstand, whereas aftermarket components possess the adjustability to compensate for a lot of those physical restrictions.
The pitman arm on your truck’s steering box is connected to the left front wheel by a draglink centre rod, and the combination of an altered suspension geometry and a few hard off road sessions are going to leave it ripe for flexing and bending. Heavy duty, adjustable Y60, Y61, and D22 draglinks made from 4140 Chromoly steel or 7075 aluminium are strong enough to resist flexing, and their upgraded OE design features include:
· 38mm outside diameter tubing;
· 6.5mm tube wall thickness; and,
· Fully adjustable ends, with tie heavy duty rods.
Competition-grade draglinks will work with suspension lifts up to 6”, are built to resist bending or breaking even under the most stressful off road conditions, and are easy to install. And with regular greasing and maintenance of the tie rod end ball joints, these beefed up draglinks will give you years of rugged, trouble-free service.
Steering Dampers and Brackets Help Keep the Road Smooth
Most OE draglinks feature either a mounting hole or bracket that a steering damper would be attached to, so you’re going to need a new, adjustable damper bracket if you switch to an aftermarket draglink. Not all draglink kits include them, though. Fortunately, however, there’s a range of strengthened, aftermarket brackets readily available for 34mm and 38mm draglinks that are especially good for when you’re upgraded dampers.
The preference between a laser cut, pin-to-pin bracket with U-bolts, or a 2-piece CNC-machined bracket from 6061 aluminium is going to depend on your truck’s setup; and its position shouldn’t restrict or over-extend the stroke of the damper, or bring it into contact with any other steering components. Assuming there aren’t any clearance problems though, it’s going to help harden your steering against both off road floggings as well as any suspension changes you may have made.
Your tie rod arm and tie rod ends are also susceptible to the stresses and hard knocks that draglinks and dampers are; and make no mistake: you don’t want to neglecting stiffening them right along with everything else.
Adjustable Tie Rod Arms Keep Your Truck Tracking Straight
The tie rod arm that connects your truck’s wheel spindles is responsible for keeping both wheels parallel and tracking in the same direction at all times. Its serviceability isn’t negotiable, and if it gets bent or broken after making a hard landing, you’re likely to find it easier to walk home instead of driving.
Investing in an adjustable, heavy duty tie rod arm for your Nissan is going to you peace of mind when you’re on the trail, and these seriously strengthened OE replacement components feature:
· 32mm outside diameter tubing;
· 6.5mm wall thickness; and,
· Heavy duty, female side tie rod ends.
The heavy duty tie rod ends of these rugged, upgraded rods are adjustable, making it possible to quickly shorten or lengthen the rods when making toe corrections and wheel alignments. They also install with the same relative ease that draglinks do, and will give years of reliable service with regular ball joint greasing.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, when you’re assessing the condition of your steering components, you want to keep in mind that the interdependence between your steering and suspension also means that excessive tyre and brake wear, as well as panhard bushing and even strut damage are possible simply from continuing to drive with damaged parts. The cumulative costs and risks of not replacing bent or weakened steering bits is too high to ignore.
With heavy duty steering arm components installed on your Nissan Patrol or Navara, you can enjoy your off roading to the fullest without worrying about whether bigger tyres or errant terrain are going to leave you in a bad fix. They’re upgrades that you’re going to feel the difference in, and they’re going to save you money over the long term.
