Are these RTA legal?

[LeeRoy]

Roads and Traffic Authority, a quick google would have brought that up

[1975ToyotaCrown]

Whats a google, is this computer talk.

[oldcorollas]

www.google.com
search engine....

just in case you are not kidding

[clubagreenie]

I work with people who wouldn't be kidding. It's a industrial unit with a roof so you could clss it as a sheltred workshop.

[o_man_ra23]

Plenty of good discussion here. Welcome Peter Goudie, glad to see the writer of the standards helping to clarify them. May I ask, how much influence did you have in the Queensland standards for engineering of modifications??

Also, what brings you to Toymods?? Are you a Toyota enthusiast like most of the rest of us, or are you just trying to spread your wisdom and help reduce the number of retards with bodgy cars?? Also, how did they ever let Daewoos into the country?? I thought our standards were better than that??

Anyways, to the original question, if it says anything along the lines of "for offroad use only", then don't use it on the road... simple!! Even if it is not the part that failed during an accident, if an "expert witness" will testify as to how it may have contributed to the accident, or how it may have increased the severity of the accident, then you start to lose insurance and gain liability. If every part you use is certified as being road legal in Aus, or you can prove the suitability by means of testing (ie, using LED banks in your tail lights, then measuring the light output and colour rendition and proving they comply with ADR49) of the component, then you are set to drive.

So in short, stop skimping on safety components, take some of your stereo budget and put it into things that actually matter, then if you have money left over, put a big f-off stereo in it (if you want to do that of course)

[stidnam]

So in short, stop skimping on safety components, take some of your stereo budget and put it into things that actually matter, then if you have money left over, put a big f-off stereo in it (if you want to do that of course)

Dude did I say that I was I was looking at these because I wanted to skimp & save money? These are actually more expensive than the factory items so I fail to see how this is possible to skimp by going down this path. As I I clearly stated in my original post I was looking at this option for a reason which was adjustability.

[o_man_ra23]

Sorry, that comment was directed at general passer by people, rather than at you. It's quite obvious you don't have a stereo budget for this build... so really it's irrelevant all round, as I figured you had been advised enough on the legal standpoint you may have with using such a piece of equipment.

Furthermore, I had previously shortened Celica tie rods... with great success. The amount I took off was such that there was still enough thread in the tube (there is more thread in the tube than what you can use OEM), and it brought my adjustability to a satisfactory level. I also elongated the slot to compensate for what was lopped off.

[ed]

curious discussion, and a good read...

peter - ive done some significant brake modifications, including custom caliper mounts. now these mounts are CLEARLY adequate, 30mm thick in parts, milled from billet chunks of steel, with the grain in the correct orientation, 12.8grade hardware etc etc. theres just no way any sensible person (ie not a laywer) could say theyre bad.

now ive not tested these. never will. an engineer will give them the tick without hesitation... but if i plough into a bunch of pedestrians, where would i stand if it came to a coronial enquiry?

[oldcorollas]

all it takes is a second expert witness for the other side, who has (been paid to have) a different opinion, and it doesn't matter what you say... or if you are "right"

but you would hope some sense would prevail....

as for ginger beer, thei rsigning off = in their "professional opinion" it is good enough.. btu they can still be proved wrong (even if only in extreme circumstances.. ala building and bridge collapses etc)... but that is why they have indemnity insurance

[LeeRoy]

Furthermore, I had previously shortened Celica tie rods... with great success. The amount I took off was such that there was still enough thread in the tube (there is more thread in the tube than what you can use OEM), and it brought my adjustability to a satisfactory level. I also elongated the slot to compensate for what was lopped off.

The only reason you would shorten them would be if you were adding length to something else, ie rod ends. Why did you need to shorten them?

[o_man_ra23]

Well, it was long enough ago that I can't remember the exact circumstances. BUT, At that point in time, I changed out all the ball joints, bushes, tie rod ends etc, and added lower springs. I remember putting it all together and discovering too much toe in and not enough adjustment. So I shortened the tubes, took it in for an alignment, and no comments came back. I was a poor uni student at the time, and bought all my components out of the National Parts catalogue at SuperTheif (so Powermax balljoints), so if they didn't have the exact part on the shelf, I may have actually used what looked right out of corolla/corona parts. So there is every chance I grabbed the wrong tie rod ends, which may have had slightly different lengths.

So yeah, probably added length to the TREs, but it proved that shortening the tubes was a viable option.

[CrUZida]

now ive not tested these. never will. an engineer will give them the tick without hesitation... but if i plough into a bunch of pedestrians, where would i stand if it came to a coronial enquiry?

According to my engineer, as long as they didn't contribute to the accident then you'd be fine.
He quite frequently inspects damaged cars for insurance companies and gives them a report detailing whether the or not the 'mods' on the car contributed to the accident.
If the mods did contribute, and they weren't legally approved, then the guy is up shit creek.
But if the mods didn't contribute, then (from what he tells me) the guy is still covered for insurance.

[clubagreenie]

curious discussion, and a good read...

peter - ive done some significant brake modifications, including custom caliper mounts. now these mounts are CLEARLY adequate, 30mm thick in parts, milled from billet chunks of steel, with the grain in the correct orientation, 12.8grade hardware etc etc. theres just no way any sensible person (ie not a laywer) could say theyre bad.

now ive not tested these. never will. an engineer will give them the tick without hesitation... but if i plough into a bunch of pedestrians, where would i stand if it came to a coronial enquiry?

They got tested on the track and if there is any ploughing into pedestrians to be done it'll be me that does it. OK?

As for a coronial enquiry, just makes sure the coroner is one of the pedestrians. Problem solved.

[The Real Roadrunner]

how bout a judge?

[af300e]

10 char............