Know Your Torque Rods: Inspection and Replacement
TRP® All-Makes Torque Rods are manufactured in the USA and are designed to prevent bushing walk-out and for an extended life. TRP® Torque Rod Assemblies have rubber bushings to maximize vibration absorption and extend the life of your suspension.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
- Broad range of sizes to cover popular applications
- Tested to exceed industry standards for quality
- Significant cost advantage and 1 year no-hassle aftermarket warranty
- Three different torque rod ends:
- Straddle-mount bushing
- Taper-mount bushing
- Hollow-mount bushing
INSPECTION
Torque rod inspection should be part of a vehicle’s routine inspection schedule. According to TMC Recommended Practice 1506 (RP1506), these inspections should happen at least once a month.
When performing these inspections, check the following:
- Inspect torque rod fasteners and torque rod bracket fasteners to ensure they are tightened to specification
- Visually inspect the torque rods for bends, cracks, or other damage
- Inspect the bushing looking for worn, torn, cut or walked out bushings
- Check the mounting locations for elongated holes, cracks or other damage:
Damaged torque rods can result in one of the most severe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) violations, resulting in a 7-point penalty. Damaged torque rods must be replaced immediately.
WHY REPLACE DAMAGED TORQUE RODS?
- Unstable steering, including shaking or swaying during lane changes and wandering when driving in a straight line
- Increased road noise and rattling
- Universal joint (U-joint) failure
- Driveline vibrations, also known as driveline whip:
- Loss of traction
- Excessive tire wear, especially feathering, cupping, and odd tread patterns
- Cracks in the frame or suspension brackets
- Excessive suspension bushing wear and premature failure
- Axle housing fatigue
- Air spring fatigue and premature failure
- Transmission and differential seal leaks
WHEN SHOULD TORQUE RODS BE REPLACED?
While there is not a prescribed mileage or date for replacement, routine visual inspection should tell you when a torque rod should be replaced. Replacement should occur when:
- The torque rod is bent
- There is more than 1/8 inch of movement in the rod end
- A bushing is cracked, has unequal exposure, is ruptured, or is otherwise damaged
- The mounting bolt hole is damaged: