Chromolly vs. Mild steel in Tie rod/Drag Link

[Jeeper]

Any advantages/disadvantages to either type? I was thinking of going with Mild steel tube (1.25" with .25" wall) and sleeve it. I was thinking this because of the elasticity of mild steel. Is Chromolly more subject to cracking? Sleeve the steel or no?

Jeeper

Many Jeeps with Stuff

[Jeff McRae]

Plenty of "Monster" steering setups out there built on mild steel with sleeving.

My YJ steering will be 1 ton Chevy tie rod and draglink, on top of the (Scout) knuckles, that I'll most likely cut down and sleeve (unless I find a 7/8" tap for loan somewhere!)

Jeff
94 YJ, one or three mods

Resistance to rockcrawling is futile - you WILL be assimilated..........

http://jmcrae.rockcrawler.com

[mrblaine]

CM does crack before bending dependant upon the heat treat.

It's sort of like the Grade 5 vs 8 stuff. Yes it can crack when heat treated, but the yield is at a point where the regular steel would have long given up.

Another thing you can do to CM is to mildly treat it up to about 40 Rockwell. Induces toughness instead of brittleness.

Most of this info I have gathered from talking to guys like Garry and John Currie. Both of whom have a lot more experience dealing with CM than I do.

I am doing something similar. I am using 1.25 x .120 wall CM and sliding a piece of 1 x .120 wall inside it between the tube adapters.

It should be tough enough and also lets me fab spares myself.

You are just another ride in the amusement park of my mind.