heim joints for steering/panhard bar?

Tacoma747

Tacoma747

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Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem
Obviously, 3/4" heims are stronger, but a I have some 5/8" heims that are nice quality (not the loose ones, guess they have a teflon liner or something?), but I am just wondering if they are strong enough for steering with hydro assist, or for a panhard bar.

I would assume they are since that is what comes on many hydro assist rams. Any input?

Thanks
 
I would imagine if they are good quality and made by a good brand. Kevlar is definitely a good way to go...I think thats what you mean instead of teflon...
 
No, he means Teflon.

Load rating depends on the rod end. You'd have to figure out what they are to be sure. Off the top of my head, a 3/4" normal strength precision end will usually be enough for steering duty. High strength precision ends are better. You'll also want to have keepers on all the joints. Double shear is better.

Panhard is probably pushing it. You'll want to be sure it's a high strength joint.
 
Actually, typically 5/8" heims have quite a bit higher static load rating than 3/4". Simply because they use the same body, but the 3/4" ball is larger meaning less meat around it. The problem lies in the 5/8" bolt--or not really. I've never actually seen a bolt fail, almost always the shaft of the rod end or the bracket. Even though I would go with 3/4", 5/8" g8 bolts will work and have been used countless times for tie rods/drag links/trac bars. Single shear or double shear makes a huge difference as well. Steering's not a place to cheap out, it's up to you. If you don't know the mfg or the quality of the joint then there is no way of knowing if it will work since there is such a huge difference in strength between low quality and high end rod ends.
 
I ran 5/8 heims on my steering, with hydro assist, for around 2 yrs without a single problem. Wouldn't hesitate to run them again, but my new frt axle is already drilled for 3/4" bolts
 
Well I ordered some 3/4" weld-in bungs. After thinking about it though, the 3/4" heim might not have enough travel for a draglink. I may end up using Chevy 1-ton ends on the draglink, and heims on the tie-rod and panhard bar (definetly high-strength on the panhard). Not really sure what I am going to do, my pitman arm is already drilled for Chevy TRE's, and I really doubt the 3/4" heims have enough travel for the draglink. Suggestions?

Using RE joints on the links, but since the panhard doesn't see much flex the limited travel of heims should be fine.
 
mudonthetires10 said:
Ok, I did run across some teflon, but FK (for example) are in fact kevlar lined.
Click to expand...

Just because you saw somebody on teh intarwebs incorrectly refer to a PTFE liner as "Kevlar" does not make it so.

Braxton - JMX12s are static rated at 28kips. Which 10/12s are you looking at that beat that? Nothing I see comes close. Most are in the 18-22k range.
 
I believe Ballistic sells QA1.

The 10-12 I got from rodendsupply for my wrap bar way back when was rated 40k+ as well.
 
The 10/12s are going to be stronger than a normal 3/4" heim, just like Braxton said, regardless of brand.
 
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