Zip. Strut rods fitment issues
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
so I am looking at converting the new strut rods I just bought to heim joints.. am I correct to think these would work if I use the rod bodies of the new adjustable rods? I'm cheap and I picked up the type of poly bused adjustable rods that the OP just bought from summit but I bought mine for $88 shipped on ebay. all the heim type I found were $270 or more.
https://www.amazon.com/Joint-Thread-...0B28XS4KJ&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Joint-Thread-...0B28XS4KJ&th=1
This should be a sticky. I think someone updated this post with some new part numbers, but it should get you started.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...heim-ends.html
As for the OP's problem, is it possible that the trailing arm wasn't machined correctly at the factory, and the "pocket" for the strut rod is too shallow? At any rate, whether bought new, or kitbashed from some of the wrong parts, heim jointed strut rods are always the correct answer.
I love poly bushings, I trust poly bushings (Energy Suspension, usually), and have them in my cars. But not for this application.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...oing-heim.html
Last edited by Bikespace; Mar 25, 2024 at 03:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
This should be a sticky. I think someone updated this post with some new part numbers, but it should get you started.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...heim-ends.html
As for the OP's problem, is it possible that the trailing arm wasn't machined correctly at the factory, and the "pocket" for the strut rod is too shallow? At any rate, whether bought new, or kitbashed from some of the wrong parts, heim jointed strut rods are always the correct answer.
I love poly bushings, I trust poly bushings (Energy Suspension, usually), and have them in my cars. But not for this application.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...oing-heim.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...heim-ends.html
As for the OP's problem, is it possible that the trailing arm wasn't machined correctly at the factory, and the "pocket" for the strut rod is too shallow? At any rate, whether bought new, or kitbashed from some of the wrong parts, heim jointed strut rods are always the correct answer.
I love poly bushings, I trust poly bushings (Energy Suspension, usually), and have them in my cars. But not for this application.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...oing-heim.html
It should be mentioned those poly bushings were the counterfeit ones VB&P sold for a period to many members here and they hardened and crumbled regardless of where on the vehicle they were used. I went own this rabbit hole one night reading many many old threads for hours on this topic and there was a inferior "poly" bushing material being sold by VB&P in the later years and possibly by other vendors too.
Thanks to VB&Ps good reputation and the fact that they sold so many bushings that many choose to believe these failures were typical of poly bushings rather than entertain the reality that they were sold inferior quality bushings but there is a couple threads that more or less proves it, or at least did for me. All the poly ive purchased was from energy suspension.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Mar 25, 2024 at 10:06 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 93
From: Chesterfield VA
There are still poly and even rubber bushings that do this. I mentioned the other vendor strut rods before, this was our issue with them, the rubber bushing literally fell apart in about 1-2 months time. I am not sure I would use any heim joints from Amazon without knowing who the manufacture is. You can order just the heim by size from any stock car racing supply store though, I would do that before Amazon. You will need to make a spacer to keep it from moving but I believe you mentioned that earlier. You can use the tube you have, that will save you some $$
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
There are still poly and even rubber bushings that do this. I mentioned the other vendor strut rods before, this was our issue with them, the rubber bushing literally fell apart in about 1-2 months time. I am not sure I would use any heim joints from Amazon without knowing who the manufacture is. You can order just the heim by size from any stock car racing supply store though, I would do that before Amazon. You will need to make a spacer to keep it from moving but I believe you mentioned that earlier. You can use the tube you have, that will save you some $$
Yes there are some poor quality rubber and poly bushings for sure. ive read of some of the cheap rebuild kits disinigrating and even therubber ones hardening and crumbling in a few years.
After reading the many reviews from those that use them on racing and offroading applications and those that have even bought multiple sets I am confident the joints will hold up ok for the application im using them for here. They do include the misalignment spacers and I have the square style washers. If I were actually autocrossing or racing the car id likely be considering something even stronger but I see a lot of people even used these with aluminum threaded rods which to me seems much more risky as the threads would be the weakest link. Plus well lets face it I'm using these to replace the ends on an $88 shipped set I bought on ebay which are the exact same brand/make "autopro" chinese strut rods as the ones summit is selling for $130 + shipping so I already know sometimes we end up paying drastically different prices for the exact same thing depending on where we buy it. (Did I mention im frugal?)
I dont really want to hijack the OP's thread here but if hes stuck with the spare set he could correct the issue with heim joints like these and have even better performance.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Mar 25, 2024 at 10:53 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 93
From: Chesterfield VA
Heims will work fine but make sure you get seals with them. That will cover up the steel ball so it will not rust and seize up. Also the aluminum rod is not weak but I would not use it as the strut rod tube because of how low it sits. I used aluminum rods on the rear toe adjusters we made for the C5 and C6 and we tested those on race cars before selling them to customers for the street.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Heims will work fine but make sure you get seals with them. That will cover up the steel ball so it will not rust and seize up. Also the aluminum rod is not weak but I would not use it as the strut rod tube because of how low it sits. I used aluminum rods on the rear toe adjusters we made for the C5 and C6 and we tested those on race cars before selling them to customers for the street.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Heims will work fine but make sure you get seals with them. That will cover up the steel ball so it will not rust and seize up. Also the aluminum rod is not weak but I would not use it as the strut rod tube because of how low it sits. I used aluminum rods on the rear toe adjusters we made for the C5 and C6 and we tested those on race cars before selling them to customers for the street.
I made mine for almost half of what the Vette vendors get and they look better.......I had to have the spacers turned down on a lathe.....
I have not run them yet....but member Buccaneer turned me on to these parts and has them on his car.....he has run them with no problem....
Jebby
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Got my heim joints today and everything went together well. I may have to grind a bit off the inserts, I'm not sure yet honestly.the with from eye to eye is 1 7/8" and my car is kinda buried in the garage right now for winter storage so I cant measure the wide of the openings.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
https://www.heimjoints.net/products/...pr_seq=uniform
The spacers are available separately....
Jebby
