Snapped Tension Rod. Darn it!

TimW

Club Member
Hi Peeps,

I have a slight problem with a snapped Tension Rod. Darn it!.. The bushes on the car at the time were the poly type and since picked up in threads that this may have been a contributory factor leading to the rod snapping.

So far I’ve been pointed to a couple of options below (thanks fellas, much appreciated)

Upgrade
https://store.garagistic.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=68
https://technotoytuning.com/nissan/280z/tension-control-rods-datsun-240z-260z-280z

Stock
http://www.zcarsource.com/tension-rod-front-240z-260z-280z-70-78-used_8_55825_49131.html
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/23-4321
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/classic20m01b/23-4260
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/14-1316

Semi Stock
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/23-4190
http://www.zcarsource.com/tension-rod-front-240z-260z-280z-70-78-used_8_55825_49131.html

I’m thinking, keep the car stock, but after the experience of driving the car with a snapped rod at motorway speeds for some distance its put the jitters in me...:eek: I also live in Milton Keynes, famous for its roundabouts and love hitting them hard, it’s my own late night race track and wouldn’t want any jitters killing the fun. I digress.. lol.. back to topic.

Here’s where I’m at ATM, I’m concerned about putting poly back on (once bitten, twice shy kinda thing), thinking rubber with a stock rod or the Rod Kit with a stock rod (Semi Stock). The upgrade is still in the remit if there are benefits and extra safety to be gained. Another concern is with the stock option (ie rubber bushes) and whether they’ll be any sloppy handling.

Any help here, experiences, hugely appreciated peeps.

Tim
 

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Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
I agree the stock item is a poor design however this is the first one I know of that has failed.

What about other people?
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
There is another option of course which I've been reading about but have no evidence of its efficacy (it does make logical sense though):

Keep a poly bush on the front side so that it's stiff under braking (compression) and you don't get the geometry changes; and a rubber one at the back so that it has enough give when under tension or moving up and down with the suspension.

I am going to try this on mine asap as you've worried me!!!
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Hi Rob

what makes you say that, given its the first time you've known one snap?

That's all I'm saying - been in the Club since 1996 and can't remember another breakage.

So, what is the likelyhood of it happening again to Tim if he replaces with another standard one and rubber bush?
 

datsfun

Club Member
So, what is the likelyhood of it happening again to Tim if he replaces with another standard one and rubber bush?

Quite high as it's possibly Metal fatigue that caused it to snap, so I would be worried about the state of the other unit still on the car.
 

Moriarty

Well-Known Forum User
That's all I'm saying - been in the Club since 1996 and can't remember another breakage.

So, what is the likelyhood of it happening again to Tim if he replaces with another standard one and rubber bush?

Had both the near side and the offside go (at different times) around 2004/5 when going over speed bumps, sounded like gunshots

I was using polyurethane bushes

Have been using alternative solutions since then
 

samuri-240

Well-Known Forum User
Actually Dave Jarman told me many years ago that he had several go & that he put it down to the urathane bushes, so he then used 1 urathane & 1 rubber one either side & had no issues after that.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Ok guys, fair enough - now I know there have been a few.

I like the one that looks like a hip-joint.

Might consider upgrading then.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Seen a few polybushed Mustang strut rods go over the years, one on a lovely '67 fastback which caused a crash - luckily a low speed one. Unless you're doing track days I can't see the point of changing from the original to be honest.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
As I type I hear the groans but I have to ask - how does a snapped rod cause an accident? I was under the impression that it helped the wishbone flex less but at the end of the day the rest of the suspension should hold together. No?

And why can't we find such things on a modern car?


Please educate me!
 

RIDDLER

Well-Known Forum User
What does Mr Feeney say? He always gave me very sound advice over the years I owned the car. Good luck sorting it Tim.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
As I type I hear the groans but I have to ask - how does a snapped rod cause an accident? I was under the impression that it helped the wishbone flex less but at the end of the day the rest of the suspension should hold together. No?

And why can't we find such things on a modern car?


Please educate me!

Ali, it locates the lower arm and stops it going backwards under braking. People call it a tension rod but I think it is a compression rod. So under sever braking it could cause the car to steer by itslef!.

Fords used the anti-roll bar to located their 'arms'.

Modern cars tend to have wide wishbones with two locations not one.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Aha! Thanks Rob - I hadn't appreciated the one location thing on the Z.
 

johnymd

Club Member
I would imagine it would cause a problem under any braking as there is nothing stopping the suspension arm moving backwards. Under severe braking I would think you will lose the wheel as it moves back in the arch. Not something I would want to experience.

Mike has been selling the ball joint arrangement for a long while. IMO this issue is a much bigger problem on road cars with standard suspension which has a lot of travel. On a track car with much stiffer suspension, you don't get much travel at all so shouldn't be an issue. Those of us that run adjustable compression rods have a ball joint arrangement so the tension rod doesn't act as a torsion bar.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Ooh!!! I never took a proper look at the control arm before. Totally see what you fellas are saying!!

e1cb2110d5100fd98a1439ceb7fc4230.jpeg


That was indeed a lucky escape for Tim!!
 
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