The Ford Barn

hueyhoolihan · 02-09-2026, 06:19 PM

i discovered that i've got a bent rear radius rod. they consist of two 1 1/2" tubes that run from an anchor point on either side of the middle of the torque tube to each rear axle at the brake backing plate. AFAIK it centers the rear axle to the frame and permits vertical and a bit of twisting rear axle movement similar to a torsion bar.

it needs to be fixed as i think it may be the root cause of my vague steering issue. at first it thought it was the steering box, then the king pins, but now that i've found the bent radius rod, i'm suspecting that's the problem.

i've actually had one end of it off when replacing the left rear brake backing plate, which led me to discover that it was bent. just finding out what the darn things are called proved quite time-consuming!

anyway...any information as to how to go about fixing it would be welcome, as usual. thanks.

Kube · 02-09-2026, 06:30 PM

Large press with patience. Sadly, just last week I tossed two beautiful rods away.

ford38v8 · 02-09-2026, 06:52 PM

Huey, a bent radius rod will affect tracking, the obvious result being faster tire wear, the less obvious being an increased effort to keep driving a straight line forward. This last indication negligible on a crowned road if the left rear is bent (rather than the right rear), meaning a built-in tendency to pull back to the left (crown). This is my logic, not backed with documentation.

Tim Ayers · 02-09-2026, 06:53 PM

I would also add using heat from an oxygen/acetylene torch will help you get the metal to go the way you want it to as well. Cold bending can lead to over correcting and making the issue worse. Just my two cents.

If you aren't confident using a press or heat, radius rods are still plentiful and you should be able to source a replacement easily.

hueyhoolihan · 02-09-2026, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kube

Large press with patience. Sadly, just last week I tossed two beautiful rods away.

don't confirm this BTW, but i'll just comfort myself with the thought that they were both for the right side. how's that?

hueyhoolihan · 02-09-2026, 07:23 PM

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i probably should have mentioned that the steering is not just vague, it's downright harrowing over 40MPH. the steering doesn't appear to be any major slack and the front wheels don't appear to have excessive play. the car just wants to wander. so much so that i haven't had it over 50MPH yet. :0

anyway, what i'm taking from the responses is that if i can get it removed (and like i said i know how to remove it from the axle end) it can be straigtened. which is good news. and that i might be able to purchase a used one.

anybody know if anyone manufactures a reproduction?

Kube · 02-09-2026, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

don't confirm this BTW, but i'll just comfort myself with the thought that they were both for the right side. how's that?

Pit free, perfectly straight, left and right.
Tried to give them away for the cost of shipping. One guy told me I should ship them to him for free as well.
I don't need to make money, but lose?

Kube · 02-09-2026, 08:02 PM

anybody know if anyone manufactures a reproduction?[/QUOTE]

Never...

KiWinUS · 02-09-2026, 08:08 PM

These are stamped/wrapped sheet metal and in my opinion a challenge to straighten correctly. It can be done but honestly you would be better to find a replacement.

Tim Brown · 02-09-2026, 08:10 PM

Left Side for a 1941? Is that what youre looking for? I probably have one...
Shoot me an approximate measurement and I can check.

Gene1949 · 02-09-2026, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

i probably should have mentioned that the steering is not just vague, it's downright harrowing over 40MPH. the steering doesn't appear to be any major slack and the front wheels don't appear to have excessive play. the car just wants to wander. so much so that i haven't had it over 50MPH yet. :0

Just my $0.02 here. If it’s wandering, you have a castor and/or a toe out issue. A bent radius rod would be a constant pull in one direction or the other.

hueyhoolihan · 02-09-2026, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene1949

Just my $0.02 here. If it’s wandering, you have a castor and/or a toe out issue. A bent radius rod would be a constant pull in one direction or the other.

thanks, i'll keep that i mind.

but there's no doubt that the rod is bent upwards at least half an inch. so it's been shortened a bit, but it, i agree, may or may not be THE problem.

always good to know there are many possible causes and solutions for a problem (sarcasm). so can anticipate a good time sorting out which one it is.

so now i've got a few possibilities: worn kingpins and/or bushings, worn out steering box, various worn out steering linkages, toe-out, castor, or bent radius rod.

alchemy · 02-09-2026, 10:27 PM

It would be nice if you said what kind of car you have. If Tim Brown is correct, any rod from 1937 to 1941 will fit. If you live in California, there are probably a dozen within a dozen miles.

I’ve straightened some on my 20 ton H press, and it surely didn’t take all 20 tons. Sneak up on it. You can probably get it back to straight.

hueyhoolihan · 02-10-2026, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alchemy

It would be nice if you said what kind of car you have. If Tim Brown is correct, any rod from 1937 to 1941 will fit. If you live in California, there are probably a dozen within a dozen miles.

I’ve straightened some on my 20 ton H press, and it surely didn’t take all 20 tons. Sneak up on it. You can probably get it back to straight.

sorry about that...

it's for a 1941 ford deluxe.

Tim Ayers · 02-10-2026, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

sorry about that...

it's for a 1941 ford deluxe.

You should be able to find a very nice used one fairly easily

Kube · 02-10-2026, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

sorry about that...

it's for a 1941 ford deluxe.

private message sent

hueyhoolihan · 02-10-2026, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kube

private message sent

many thanks!

...don't know if i'll be doing the installation myself. replacing the rear brake backing plate, which involved removing the back end of the radius rod was a miserable job. don't know if i want to "go in there" again, if you know what i mean. ha

02-09-2026, 06:19 PM	#1
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 593	how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. i discovered that i've got a bent rear radius rod. they consist of two 1 1/2" tubes that run from an anchor point on either side of the middle of the torque tube to each rear axle at the brake backing plate. AFAIK it centers the rear axle to the frame and permits vertical and a bit of twisting rear axle movement similar to a torsion bar. it needs to be fixed as i think it may be the root cause of my vague steering issue. at first it thought it was the steering box, then the king pins, but now that i've found the bent radius rod, i'm suspecting that's the problem. i've actually had one end of it off when replacing the left rear brake backing plate, which led me to discover that it was bent. just finding out what the darn things are called proved quite time-consuming! anyway...any information as to how to go about fixing it would be welcome, as usual. thanks.

02-09-2026, 06:30 PM	#2
Kube Super Moderator Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 10,539	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. Large press with patience. Sadly, just last week I tossed two beautiful rods away. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

02-09-2026, 06:52 PM	#3
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,634	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. Huey, a bent radius rod will affect tracking, the obvious result being faster tire wear, the less obvious being an increased effort to keep driving a straight line forward. This last indication negligible on a crowned road if the left rear is bent (rather than the right rear), meaning a built-in tendency to pull back to the left (crown). This is my logic, not backed with documentation. __________________ Alan

02-09-2026, 06:53 PM	#4
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,227	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. I would also add using heat from an oxygen/acetylene torch will help you get the metal to go the way you want it to as well. Cold bending can lead to over correcting and making the issue worse. Just my two cents. If you aren't confident using a press or heat, radius rods are still plentiful and you should be able to source a replacement easily.

02-09-2026, 07:23 PM	#6
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 593	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) i probably should have mentioned that the steering is not just vague, it's downright harrowing over 40MPH. the steering doesn't appear to be any major slack and the front wheels don't appear to have excessive play. the car just wants to wander. so much so that i haven't had it over 50MPH yet. :0 anyway, what i'm taking from the responses is that if i can get it removed (and like i said i know how to remove it from the axle end) it can be straigtened. which is good news. and that i might be able to purchase a used one. anybody know if anyone manufactures a reproduction?

02-09-2026, 08:02 PM	#8
Kube Super Moderator Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 10,539	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. anybody know if anyone manufactures a reproduction?[/QUOTE] Never... __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

02-09-2026, 08:08 PM	#9
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,416	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. These are stamped/wrapped sheet metal and in my opinion a challenge to straighten correctly. It can be done but honestly you would be better to find a replacement.

02-09-2026, 08:10 PM	#10
Tim Brown Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colfax, CA Posts: 462	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. Left Side for a 1941? Is that what youre looking for? I probably have one... Shoot me an approximate measurement and I can check.

02-09-2026, 10:27 PM	#13
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 1,001	Re: how to fix or replace bend rear radius arm. It would be nice if you said what kind of car you have. If Tim Brown is correct, any rod from 1937 to 1941 will fit. If you live in California, there are probably a dozen within a dozen miles. I’ve straightened some on my 20 ton H press, and it surely didn’t take all 20 tons. Sneak up on it. You can probably get it back to straight.