Heim joints for a daily driver?

[beebee]

What is peoples opinions on the use of heim joints on a daily driver. Are they too harsh or wear too quickly? I plan to insulate them from the bolt with a bush of some description - hopefully rubber.

They just make manufacture of the arms easy as well as being more fine tunable.

[fatassgq]

I presume you are looking at a 4 link or similar set up? Or is this for a ladder bar?
I know that ladder bars are fine with em cause they are usually under constant load so very little noise if any. Not sure about four links though. I would imagine cause the load would vary and be coming on and off that they could wear out reasonably fast. Get good ones $$$$ and see how ya go. Maybe put heims in one end and bushes in the other to soak up some shock?

just a guess

Brian

[Wendle]

I have done it, and gone back to bushes.
they are great when they are new, and nice and tight. but as soon as they start to loosen up, which only takes a few months worth of road vibration, they are terrible. every time you hit the power - clunk, clunk. every time you step on the brakes - clunk, clunk. the shock loading starts to get pretty severe after a while too. I broke a couple of bolts before getting rid of them.
if you really want to do it, get the best quality joints (within reason) that you can find and that will take an 'off the shelf' bush and crush tube. a normal poly or rubbder bush on the other end of the link will take lots and lots of the harshness out of the joint, too...

[humphey]

dave i totally agree with wendle , i had a four bar in the rear of me cruiser with h/joints good quailty one 3/4 size they only lasted a couple of months drivein to work and a few wheelin trips was not happy about the wear in the joints for the price off them . ripped it out and fitted a arm in the top no problems yet on and off road .

[Matt N]

I can't remember which brand, but I got one for $110 for the rear pahard rod of my Wrangler. After about 9000 kms (no mud) it has started to show signs of play, not too bad, but now I expect it to deteriorate at a greater pace.

[Wendle]

dave i totally agree with wendle , i had a four bar in the rear of me cruiser with h/joints good quailty one 3/4 size they only lasted a couple of months drivein to work and a few wheelin trips was not happy about the wear in the joints for the price off them . ripped it out and fitted a arm in the top no problems yet on and off road .

and it's the daily driving that kills them. you could wheel the piss out of your truck every second day and they would still last for ages, but road driving seems to be what kills them. maybe they vibrate around more and cop more wear when there is not so much load on them?

[grimbo]

Its probably the combination of no load which keeps them a bit "loose" and the small high rate vibrations of dd that will over time loosen them dramatically. When you are 4wheeling and load them up the small vibrations cause by the car operating won't be allowed to effect the joint as much giving them a longer life.

[beebee]

Damn! All of your responses echoed what I already thought. It's just such an easy way to build the links

Thanks for the help!

[JK]

Thanks guys, you have just saved me from wasting my $$$. I was contemplating getting ball joints in one end of the mod lower control arms for the GQ which will see a LOT of miles.

Cheers, JK

[M&M Custom Engineerin]

we are in the process of getting our 360 degree swivel links CNC'd, this will drop the price of them significantly.

They are adjustable at one end and have a 360 degree swivel in the other. They can be made to any length and to suit any bushes you require. The swivels are also fully greasable.

[humphey]

we are in the process of getting our 360 degree swivel links CNC'd, this will drop the price of them significantly.

They are adjustable at one end and have a 360 degree swivel in the other. They can be made to any length and to suit any bushes you require. The swivels are also fully greasable.

so fellars HOW MUCH . lengh 1200mm, bush id 5/8 od 1'' width 50 mm or there abouts need some for buggy cruiser . need 6 of for four bar front 2 lower links