Rod ends on a daily driver?

[Eric Howell]

Initially the plan was to use 2" poly bushings. The 3 link on my S-10 will have the lower bars converging in plan view and bind has become my concern. I know about johnny joints but the size may cause packaging problems.

Will greasable rod ends with the rubber seals live on the street?

Would teflon lined or steel be better? Ride harshness is no concern.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[deuce_454]

id use johnny joints

[hardline_42]

I've used the QA1 XM line of rod ends for suspension links before on both ends of both panhard rods and LCAs. They're Teflon/Kevlar lined and hold up pretty well for a rod end. Probably even longer with the rubber boots on them. If you absolutely need to use a rod end, these would be my choice hands down.

Another option might be the Howe rubber bushings with threaded male ends from Coleman Racing. Obviously they are less harsh on the street than a rod end, but they allow the links to lengthen and compress lengthwise under certain conditions which can actually help to eliminate bind.

I have to admit though, that the Johnny Joints will probably be the best of both worlds. They offer the misalignment range of a rod end with the vibration damping characteristics of rubber.

BTW, it's pretty safe to say that Poly bushings should not be used in any application where they are required to rotate (ie. a-arm bushings, spring eye bushings, shackle bushings, and suspension link bushings) but are acceptable in other non-pivoting applications (ie. sway bar endlink bushings, engine mounts, tranny mounts, body mounts etc.).

[wendell]

How long do you want them to last? If ride quality isn't an issue I'd go with teflon lined rod ends. But... if you've built provisions for 2" bushings, I don't see why JJ's would fit.

[Eric Howell]

I would like to get about a year out of them.

The suspension isn't built yet but it getting started early next week.

As for the johnny joints I can't seem to find any less then 2.625" wide. Anyone have a link to something smaller?

[deuce_454]

http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestore/categories.aspx?id=1232

[rocketman]

How much you plan to drive, I ran Aurora solid hiems on my pro street car it wasn't to bad of a ride

[wendell]

A year of fair weather driving up in New England isn't much. How about in road miles.

[Marcus SC&C]

You can get 3/4" bolt JJs in 2" width and they have a new series of slim line ones due out any day now (did I say that out loud? :secret: ) that are even slimmer,about 1.625" if I recall. JJs would be my first (and last) choice,install and aside from greasing them from tiem to time you`ll never have to mess with them again....ever. :twothumbs Mark SC&C

[MrQuick]

really, crapola...I guess I could still use them....sooner than April? Still a 7/16" through bolt?

[Eric Howell]

Thanks guys. Not a fan of the 7/16 through bolt but if rock crawler run them it will be fine.

As for miles, about 10,000 - 15,000 in all weather except ice.

[MrQuick]

Thanks guys. Not a fan of the 7/16 through bolt but if rock crawler run them it will be fine.

As for miles, about 10,000 - 15,000 in all weather except ice. Its not too bad. You can easily hone out to 1/2" if it makes us feel better. And it does. I just hate using reducers.

[Eric Howell]

I haven't made the brackets yet but thank you for letting me know that. Don't know why 7/16 scares me...haha

[parsonsj]

My 3 link uses solid rod ends too. I don't notice any undue NVH. I expected it to be worse than it is.

I did spend a couple of weeks chasing a squeak that I thought was in the suspension, only to find it in the glove box latch. :)

jp

[Eric Howell]

Nvh?

[Marcus SC&C]

Heims usually won`t cause many NVH issues when they`re new,it`s when they get some hard miles on them and develop some lash that they start to make noise. It always starts out as a high frequency hum or buzz at first then gets lower in frequency as the lash increases until they just rattle. It takes a while to get to that stage though. It`s almost cool,I`ve worked on a few cars where the heims in the rear suspension clinked in time with the rumble of the cam when you idled across a parking lot. :rolleyes: Mark SC&C

[Eric Howell]

Forgot to mention I ordered these this morning.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/01/ce9112sp-1.jpg

[MrQuick]

Nvh? noise-vibration-harshness

[Eric Howell]

Ahhh, thanks.

[CHILI442]

I have the QA1 XM rod ends on my '68 442 (upper arms). I didn't notice any change in NVH but after a year or so they started to wear out. Every time I let out the clutch the rearend pops. It starts to get annoying real quick. I've got new ones but haven't got them on yet.

[hardline_42]

I have the QA1 XM rod ends on my '68 442 (upper arms). I didn't notice any change in NVH but after a year or so they started to wear out. Every time I let out the clutch the rearend pops. It starts to get annoying real quick. I've got new ones but haven't got them on yet.
I've had the same ones on the lower link axle side mounts and both sides of the panhard rod on my '93 Z28 for over a year (daily driven) and they're still tight. I just made sure to keep them clean.