Looking to Make a Suspension Part

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im looking for advice to make a suspension part, i have a nissan 240sx and im removing the HICAS (rear wheel steering) when i remove the hicas rack i need a lock bar to go between the tie rods. its only a piece of pipe with threads on the end for the tie rods, and most places want between $179 & $225 what i want to know is:what type & size pipe would be strong enough?  whats the best way to thread the ends? would i just need a weld in bung? heres a few pics of the partinstalled
Reply:I would use solid round bar and have my machinst friend drill and tap the ends for me.The tab welds on that bar in the pic suck.   Considering the application, that's scary!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33I would use solid round bar and have my machinst friend drill and tap the ends for me.The tab welds on that bar in the pic suck.   Considering the application, that's scary!
Reply:i know, i cant understand how someone could charge $200 for that work. Thanks
Reply:Don't forget a plasma cnc for the tabs. You could make them on a mill but would take a little longer.Also, the questions you are asking us is the reason why they charge $200. They are design engineering questions.Also, those end pieces are turned and faced on a lathe with a center hole and tapped. I wouldn't be suprised if it had a flange and was slip fit into the tubing for centering purposes.Also, if done properly 1018 would be the my material of choice.Last edited by pyroracing85; 10-12-2010 at 04:57 PM.
Reply:As to why it might be $200, it could be because:- the market will bear that price point;- the manufacturer has to design it and make it and stock it and has business expenses like taxes and insurance and corp taxes and payroll taxes and so forth;- the manufacturer has enough liability insurance to cover their a$$ if someone wrecks their car and blames or tries to blame the replacement part;- etc, etc, etc.1018?  Nah, make it out of 4130 or 4340 chrome-moly or nickel-chrome-moly bar.  Complete with material lot certs, possible NDT testing on the finished product (x-ray, mag particle, ultrasound, etc), etc, etc, and that $200 price might seem like a bargain.  Only half kidding here.(can't see the pics from here, corp firewall isn'tletting them through.  Best bet for pics is to upload them to the WeldingWeb server and  thus you don't have any off-site hosting issues and usually the corp firewall lets them through that way.  Just an FYI.    )  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Id say DOM tube thats either threaded, or has a bung and tig weld the tabs on, those tabs look poopy