HD tie rod/draglink

lockedup5

lockedup5

overcompensating underachiever
Joined
Jan 30, 2008
Location
Burke County (Hildebran)
So I went to Tractor supply and bought a tractor top adjuster link you know with the cheap heims on them. Cut it in two installed 1'' solid rod in it and sleeved it with 12 ga. tube and welded everything very solid. I don't seriously think I will bend the rod again but my question to everyone is how will the heims hold up? I've been told they will wear out quick. I'm thinking the heim ball will be fine but I'm concerned about the corse threads in the adjustment. Also considering getting my drag link and tie rod set the way I want it and drilling a couple places around where the threads are and welding the stuff out of it. Let me know what yall think. Some input from someone with experience with this type of heim would be nice.
 
They won't last long at all. Those things get a ton of slop in them just from swinging around on the back of a tractor. Not what I'd want for steering. Is this a trail only rig?
 
These are on a buggy I helped with to build and another friend runs them, only because they are cheap, BUT NEVER on steering. They wear extremely fast and are not reliable enough IMO for that use.
 
I wouldn't trust it. If this is a titled vehicle that needs an inspection, heims on the steering won't (or shouldn't) pass. Decent heims and bungs are pretty cheap if you insist on using them in a steering application. My .02.
 
Talk to lbyota85 he can give a time frame on the wear of his and those on the buggy. Please don't take this as me being an ass. I'm all for trying and doing new things: just want you to be safe. They will last awhile and they haven't broke yet, but they where sloppy and rattling after one trip to TN.
 
na man I asked for opinions I like the input. I've already built them and installed them just waiting to take a trip. If nothing else I know they are better than what I had. Armorall has gotten a couple of drag links in the past few months and that water is to cold to be changing linkage in. I already have it figured out how to weld a piece of 1'' id tubing to what I have to put good heims in if I have to.
 
upnover said:
Guess you didn't believe me when I told you this very same thing yesterday morning at 10:45am
Here is what I was referring to as far as how to do it right and on the cheap too.
http://nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57335
You won't need the mis-alignment pieces.
Click to expand...
I didn't disagree with you Chip. I just had to do something cause it's agrivating to have to change them all the time. And what Ive built is alot better than what I had. I was kinda looking for some advice from someone that is actually running them or has in the past not just hearsay
 
My experience hasn't been personal, but as I had said. Everyone I know who has used them had similar experience. They wear out too quick. That is my experience, what I have seen, and what friends have told me of their issues. Granted, no one I know has used them for steering, just in link set up's. But, if it wears on a steering application like it does with links, no way you will be able to drive it on the road after some slop gets in there.
From what you described as far as materials for the rest of it sound fine.
 
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