DHD Tie Rod Sleeves Upgrade - Install Tips and Info

[zgStevieD]

I came across another tie rod reinforcement product. Originally designed for the 6th gen Bronco (hence the name Broncbuster) and they adapted the same concept for the Rivian. Over twice the price as the DHD sleeves so not sure if the value's there, but it may be a simpler install/uninstall.

https://broncbustertx.com/rivian-tie-rod-busterbrace-set

Did you (or anyone you've heard of) try these? When I saw the price difference, I assumed the DHD price was for a single but seems to be for a pair. If correct, quite a difference. Also curious if there's value or just convenience.

I'm on the fence about just carrying a couple spares or installing either of these. Honestly would rather just have the added peace of mine and not have to do a repair on trail!

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[pnwr1s]

Rivian made these tie rods criminally small given the usage profile, weight, and torque these trucks have. For comparison the outer tie rod on my 200-series Land Cruiser is over 25mm and it’s significantly lighter.

 

[Rexbo]

Tried the Rubicon trail this weekend, tie rods didn't bend with these sleeves installed. Seems like they work as intended!

 

[risingphoenix]

Seems like a stupid question, but my SC is claiming tie rods are specific to L/R and I'll need 2 sets of inner and outer to have protection off road. Does anyone else know if this is true or not? Seems sus.

 

[SANZC02]

Seems like a stupid question, but my SC is claiming tie rods are specific to L/R and I'll need 2 sets of inner and outer to have protection off road. Does anyone else know if this is true or not? Seems sus.

It should be true as they usually have left and right threads to enable adjustments with the sleeve. If the threads were the same you would not be able to adjust them by rotating the sleeve.

 

[risingphoenix]

It should be true as they usually have left and right threads to enable adjustments with the sleeve. If the threads were the same you would not be able to adjust them by rotating the sleeve.

Makes sense. With the quoted price of a single pair of inner/outer tie rods at almost $500 and $1000 for 2 sets it makes the brace option above much more attractive. The broncobuster set comes in at $300 for the pair (on sale right now).

edit: I ordered and received the broncobuster set. Unfortunately it doesn’t fit my 2023 R1S for those looking at purchasing. Waiting to hear back from broncobuster.

 

[Spades]

Makes sense. With the quoted price of a single pair of inner/outer tie rods at almost $500 and $1000 for 2 sets it makes the brace option above much more attractive. The broncobuster set comes in at $300 for the pair (on sale right now).

edit: I ordered and received the broncobuster set. Unfortunately it doesn’t fit my 2023 R1S for those looking at purchasing. Waiting to hear back from broncobuster.

You get it figure it out?

 

[risingphoenix]

You get it figure it out?

turns out around the time my S was built (8/23) Rivian started installing beefier tie rods. I bought longer M6 bolts and was able to make the braces fit “okay” but not perfect. I’m okay with that as I don’t want it so reinforced that I damage my steering rack.

 

[lil.frog.the.rivian]

turns out around the time my S was built (8/23) Rivian started installing beefier tie rods. I bought longer M6 bolts and was able to make the braces fit “okay” but not perfect. I’m okay with that as I don’t want it so reinforced that I damage my steering rack.

How "okay" is the fit? I just ordered these and getting one of the tire rods replaced with the beefier ones soon because it broke on a trail. I am planning to keep one brace on the old one and thinking about maybe leaving the new one alone. Do you have photos by any chance? I want to see if the gap is too big or something. Also what size M6 did you use if that's handy?

Thanks!

 

[BrentInCO]

How "okay" is the fit? I just ordered these and getting one of the tire rods replaced with the beefier ones soon because it broke on a trail. I am planning to keep one brace on the old one and thinking about maybe leaving the new one alone. Do you have photos by any chance? I want to see if the gap is too big or something. Also what size M6 did you use if that's handy?

Thanks!

I just installed the BroncBuster brace on my 2024 R1S Dual Max delivered March 2024. It’s too dark to get a good photo, but I’d guess one end has a 1/3” gap while the other end has none. The 4 screws / bolts that come with the brace attach fine on one end, but I went to Home Depot, bought a few size variations and feel that this is the best fit for the 4 on the other end M6 - 1 x 25 mm plain steel socket cap screw.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...eel-Socket-Cap-Screw-2-Piece-803358/204274290

I’ll try this brace out on my 2023 Launch Edition R1S Quad delivered February 2023 tomorrow night. Will see if the gap is similar. Update / edit: installed tonight and this vehicle has smaller tie rods resulting in no gap on the BroncBuster brace and therefore no need for larger screws.

 

[lil.frog.the.rivian]

I just installed the BroncBuster brace on my 2024 R1S Dual Max delivered March 2024. It’s too dark to get a good photo, but I’d guess one end has a 1/3” gap while the other end has none. The 4 screws / bolts that come with the brace attach fine on one end, but I went to Home Depot, bought a few size variations and feel that this is the best fit for the 4 on the other end M6 - 1 x 25 mm plain steel socket cap screw.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...eel-Socket-Cap-Screw-2-Piece-803358/204274290

I’ll try this brace out on my 2023 Launch Edition R1S Quad delivered February 2023 tomorrow night. Will see if the gap is similar.

Thanks so much! This is exactly what I needed. I'll just buy the same bolts from home Depot

 

[an-thu-knee]

I carry a pair of inner tie rods (the half with the boot) in my truck, as I've now bent two of them. I ordered them through a local rivian-certified collision center. While there I chatted with the owner who also has an R1T and offroads it, so we got to talking details:

• Apparently if you do happen to kill a steering rack, rivian service manuals have you drop the front subframe + drive unit to replace it, which requires a 'drive unit alignment procedure', something his collision center bills at $2500
• The inner tie rod is a fuse. He repaired the trucks that the rivian team took on the rubicon trail, and told me some anecdotes from them about early proto vehicles doing the sideways shuffle that the quad motor causes, leading to even more destroyed steering racks, so they updated the tie rod thickness to try and fine-tune the amount of force it can take to protect the steering rack.

Rivian updated the tie rod size sometime in late 2022 or very early 2023. The above-mentioned collision center had to check my VIN to see which version of the tie rod I needed to order. Maybe DHD hasn't updated their design to account for this? I know they've been selling these sleeves for a bit...

Not sure this is true. My 2023 R1T was built in May and has the old, 14mm tie rods

 

[risingphoenix]

How "okay" is the fit? I just ordered these and getting one of the tire rods replaced with the beefier ones soon because it broke on a trail. I am planning to keep one brace on the old one and thinking about maybe leaving the new one alone. Do you have photos by any chance? I want to see if the gap is too big or something. Also what size M6 did you use if that's handy?

Thanks!

Sorry just seeing this. BTW, I have the newer beefier tie rods but also off road in Colorado on some stuff I probably shouldn't. I purchased this kit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9J4GRP3?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1). Not sure but I think I used the 16mm but easy to figure out for $10. Regarding perfect fit - I don't care. The point is to provide a little more resiliency to the tie rods. If it breaks that's better than the steering rack breaking and I just want to get off the trail without a hugely expensive rescue. If the tie rod AND the broncobuster breaks, hopefully I can use the other side to reinforce and limp down to pavement.

For the same reason I don't have a full size spare but a small spare and the Gluetread complete kit. Just get me down to pavement, which I think would be easier using the Gluetread kit than trying to replace a full size tire on uneven rocky ground (controversial take for sure).

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