Heim Jointed?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: Heim Jointed? (cdsmith)
Heim joints are just much stronger and a more positive connection. They are also able to move smoother within their range of motion.
Most, if not all, forms of professional racing, and many amatuer, use these to improve handling.
Most, if not all, forms of professional racing, and many amatuer, use these to improve handling.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Re: Heim Jointed? (bogus)
Heim joints are just much stronger and a more positive connection. They are also able to move smoother within their range of motion.
Most, if not all, forms of professional racing, and many amatuer, use these to improve handling.
Most, if not all, forms of professional racing, and many amatuer, use these to improve handling.
But for the budget minded, if you are going to larger sway bars, you can simply take your existing links to a machine shop and have them cut off the top tabs (those that bolt to the bar) and have them move and reweld them a 1/4 inch off center...forward for the rear bars and aft for the front bars. This will get them lined up vertically again and make all the diffeence in the world.
Heim is great, but "backyard" can be good too!
:seeya
:steering:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,424
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From: Tucson Az
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Heim Jointed? (jackdaroofer)
Heim joints are just much stronger and a more positive connection. They are also able to move smoother within their range of motion.
Most, if not all, forms of professional racing, and many amatuer, use these to improve handling.
:iagree: for sure
But for the budget minded, if you are going to larger sway bars, you can simply take your existing links to a machine shop and have them cut off the top tabs (those that bolt to the bar) and have them move and reweld them a 1/4 inch off center...forward for the rear bars and aft for the front bars. This will get them lined up vertically again and make all the diffeence in the world.
Heim is great, but "backyard" can be good too!
:seeya
:steering:
Most, if not all, forms of professional racing, and many amatuer, use these to improve handling.
:iagree: for sure
But for the budget minded, if you are going to larger sway bars, you can simply take your existing links to a machine shop and have them cut off the top tabs (those that bolt to the bar) and have them move and reweld them a 1/4 inch off center...forward for the rear bars and aft for the front bars. This will get them lined up vertically again and make all the diffeence in the world.
Heim is great, but "backyard" can be good too!
:seeya
:steering:
in a good way :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Heim Jointed? (jackdaroofer)
Jack, one of the biggest advangtages of the heim joints on the sway bar end links is so you can: (a) absolutely zero preload the sway bars, or (b) use them to prelaod to a desired point. Either way, it won't happen with the factory end links. One will always be sort of tight.
As said above, using heim joints at the critical control points removes virtually all play/slop from your suspension control arms. I would not recommend them for street use though. Most would not like the additional transfer of the shock/shudder from pavement irregularities directly to the frame and straight to their posterior. If you've done all the right things with stock components and max'd out your car's capabilities, then doen the same with poly everything, then the heims may give that racer on the absolute edge of peak performance the little bit more needed.
As said above, using heim joints at the critical control points removes virtually all play/slop from your suspension control arms. I would not recommend them for street use though. Most would not like the additional transfer of the shock/shudder from pavement irregularities directly to the frame and straight to their posterior. If you've done all the right things with stock components and max'd out your car's capabilities, then doen the same with poly everything, then the heims may give that racer on the absolute edge of peak performance the little bit more needed.
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Re: Heim Jointed? (NavyVet)
Jack, one of the biggest advangtages of the heim joints on the sway bar end links is so you can: (a) absolutely zero preload the sway bars, or (b) use them to prelaod to a desired point. Either way, it won't happen with the factory end links. One will always be sort of tight.
As said above, using heim joints at the critical control points removes virtually all play/slop from your suspension control arms. I would not recommend them for street use though. Most would not like the additional transfer of the shock/shudder from pavement irregularities directly to the frame and straight to their posterior. If you've done all the right things with stock components and max'd out your car's capabilities, then doen the same with poly everything, then the heims may give that racer on the absolute edge of peak performance the little bit more needed.
As said above, using heim joints at the critical control points removes virtually all play/slop from your suspension control arms. I would not recommend them for street use though. Most would not like the additional transfer of the shock/shudder from pavement irregularities directly to the frame and straight to their posterior. If you've done all the right things with stock components and max'd out your car's capabilities, then doen the same with poly everything, then the heims may give that racer on the absolute edge of peak performance the little bit more needed.
But, if you are a serious weekender, on a limited budget, moving to larger bars...my simple solution will work..for about $45. Keeping the links vertical at rest, is, I found, critical! When I installed my 30mm fronts and 24mm rears, it became obvious the links weren't vertical and that the upward push from the sway bars was making the links go further off line. In adition, I had a clunk in the front end as a result of the links loading up against the lower control arm. Plus, I really couldn't notice any improvement with the heavier front bars. Being cocked at an angle, the links weren't transferring the force to the bars.
No Doubt Heim is great. But may be a little much for the street and the pocket book.
If links aren't vertical, give my approach a try. I will refund you a $1 bill ifit doesn't work :D :D :D :D
:seeya
:steering:
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Re: Heim Jointed? (edsalinas)
Jack, you continue to amaze me.............
in a good way :cheers:
:seeya BUD!
:steering:
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Heim Jointed? (jackdaroofer)
:iagree: You are absolutely correct on wanting the links vertical. I'm gald I did the heims, but the heims are a tad expensive for most street cars and for anyone who isn't as obsessed as I tend to be :D