Alternatives to factory steering componenets on an older machine? - L345DT

[motionclone]

Sloppy steering, In need of tie rod ends and drag link ends for my L345dt. Factory parts are way overpriced and wondering if there is an alternative in aftermarket. I would need LandR tie rods and the draglink assembly or ends for it.. I could cut out the ends of the draglink and weld in new tie rods meant for something else but the taper would have to match what my steering arms have for tapers.

 

[jeff9366]

The final year of production for L345dt was 1985......36 years ago. And parts are metric.......

Doubtful there is enough demand for anyone to stock these components other than Kubota.

 

[RickB]

There's a finite number of rod end tapers manufactured in this world. I'm certain that by educating yourself on how to measure yours or what standard your components are built to will yield results. You may find an aftermarket supplier like Moog or retailer like NAPA or FleetPride may have parts and pieces cataloged by dimension. A sharp mind, chop saw, welder and some time may serve you well.

 

[motionclone]

This is what I figured but i also figured someone else has already done this and figured out what available tie rods may work.

 

[RickB]

Step one for me would be to get the OEM part numbers and do a thorough internet search using those numbers to see if anyone has done exactly that. Maybe you already have.
Knowing your cost for the OEM parts also gives you a budget for comparative purposes.

 

[TractorGuy]

There's a finite number of rod end tapers manufactured in this world. I'm certain that by educating yourself on how to measure yours or what standard your components are built to will yield results. You may find an aftermarket supplier like Moog or retailer like NAPA or FleetPride may have parts and pieces cataloged by dimension. A sharp mind, chop saw, welder and some time may serve you well.

Finding parts by size is becoming extinct. It used to be common practice but nowadays if it doesn't match a year, make, model in a database that any numbskull can look up you are SOL.

Found this but they leave out the distance between A and B so no way to determine taper. It might come close enough though.
Bare Co USA - Tie Rod Ends - Male Thread (Metric)

This is their main index.
Bare Co USA - Tie Rod End Index

 

[motionclone]

well yeah ive already done those things. The draglink is 350$ and the tie rod ends are 100$ each

 

[motionclone]

Moog does the same with taper measurements so hard to know if it will work. Moog has all their stuff with specs so that might be the way i have to go.

 

[Chewwy]

Step one for me would be to get the OEM part numbers and do a thorough internet search using those numbers to see if anyone has done exactly that. Maybe you already have.
Knowing your cost for the OEM parts also gives you a budget for comparative purposes.

I did the same thing looking for parts for a back hoe. Found the parts much more economically priced from a forklift dealer.

 

[PILOON]

Sloppy steering, In need of tie rod ends and drag link ends for my L345dt. Factory parts are way overpriced and wondering if there is an alternative in aftermarket. I would need LandR tie rods and the draglink assembly or ends for it.. I could cut out the ends of the draglink and weld in new tie rods meant for something else but the taper would have to match what my steering arms have for tapers.

As to link ends you could always wrap shim stock to make a tight fit.
Should work just fine.