Breakaway Automotive Steering Tie Rod for Controlled Wheel Motion During Crash

A method comprising:

• along a longitudinal axis disposed substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle, providing a component comprising:
• a rod portion comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a male threaded section disposed at the distal end;
• a receiver portion comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a female threaded section disposed at the proximal end
• a distal end;
• and
• a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end;
• narrowing a section of the receiver portion between the proximal end and distal end;
• and
• receiving the male threaded section of the rod portion into the female threaded section of the receiver portion, forming a threaded connection,
• such that the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowed section.

A system for distributing crash energy within a vehicle, comprising:

• the vehicle;
• a front wheel of the vehicle;
• a steering knuckle coupled the front wheel;
• a frame of the vehicle;
• a steering rack coupled to the frame;
• a tie rod,
• wherein the tie rod is connected to the steering knuckle by a distal ball joint,
• wherein the tie rod is connected to the steering rack by a proximal ball joint,
• wherein the tie rod comprises:
• a longitudinal axis;
• a rod portion aligned with the longitudinal axis, wherein the rod portion comprises:
• a proximal end;
• the proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a male coupling section disposed at the distal end;
• a receiver portion aligned with the longitudinal axis, wherein the receiver portion comprises:
• a proximal end;
• a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end;
• a distal end;
• the distal ball joint disposed at the distal end;
• and
• a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end.