Custom track bar
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: VT
Custom track bar
I have a 1988 F350 4x4 (monobeam front axle), and I had death wobble pretty bad with it two years ago. So I bought some two piece Moog track bar bushings, pressed them in and thought I was good to go. Well it started wobbling very slightly this spring and has been getting worse ever since. I just got my new tires mounted and don't want to destroy them, so I need to do something about it. Here's my idea:
1. take a piece of 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 steel pipe and cut just shorter than the length of current track bar pipe section
2. weld in some threaded bungs: McMaster-Carr
3. install some high strength ball joint rod ends with jam nuts and adjust to length of current track bar: McMaster-Carr
4. drill out current 9/16" bolt holes to accept new grade 8 5/8" bolts
Does anyone see an issue with this? I think it'll be way stronger than the original track bar and the high strength rod ends should last way longer than the junk plastic bushings. It'll cost me about $80 or so. That's a lot less than $200 for a new track bar, plus hopefully it'll be an improvement.
Lemme know what you guys think
Thanks!
1. take a piece of 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 steel pipe and cut just shorter than the length of current track bar pipe section
2. weld in some threaded bungs: McMaster-Carr
3. install some high strength ball joint rod ends with jam nuts and adjust to length of current track bar: McMaster-Carr
4. drill out current 9/16" bolt holes to accept new grade 8 5/8" bolts
Does anyone see an issue with this? I think it'll be way stronger than the original track bar and the high strength rod ends should last way longer than the junk plastic bushings. It'll cost me about $80 or so. That's a lot less than $200 for a new track bar, plus hopefully it'll be an improvement.
Lemme know what you guys think
Thanks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
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From: Gilbert, PA
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 75
From: Gilbert, PA
Good luck even buying the right sized heim joints for half that price
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: VT
What's the difference? they look the same as the rod ends I was going to use?
What would the surprise be?
What would the surprise be?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,555
Likes: 40
From: Concord, NC
Rod end and heim are two names for the same part.
I wouldn't use the stainless steel version for strength concerns, and the PTFE/kevlar inserts say they are heat treated chromolly steel housings, so I don't see why they wouldn't work as long as they are sized appropriately - the RSK kit didn't say what size the joints were. McMaster also has the high misalignment spacers/retainers that are mentioned in the RSK kit description.
I wouldn't use the stainless steel version for strength concerns, and the PTFE/kevlar inserts say they are heat treated chromolly steel housings, so I don't see why they wouldn't work as long as they are sized appropriately - the RSK kit didn't say what size the joints were. McMaster also has the high misalignment spacers/retainers that are mentioned in the RSK kit description.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 6
From: Dallas, TX, USA
No, Heim joints are not like ball joints. Heim joints are much stronger for this type application. A Heim joint would have the forces evenly distributed through the ball area, as opposed to a ball joint where the forces would concentrate where the "shaft" meets the "ball" on just one side. Further, a Heim allows much much more articulation, up to 45 degrees of deflection where a ball joint is lucky to get 15. Heims do require more frequent maintenance and replacement, but they also don't shear off under unbalanced loads like a ball does. And a Heim is much stronger for any given size.
The surprise you would get would be when the shaft part of the ball joint snapped off and your track bar started dragging on the ground. With the obvious implications of that.
More info on Heim joints: Rod End / Heim Joint FAQ
Also, "ball joint rod ends":
"Rod end joint"/"Heim joint":
Similar terminology, two rather different things.
The surprise you would get would be when the shaft part of the ball joint snapped off and your track bar started dragging on the ground. With the obvious implications of that.
More info on Heim joints: Rod End / Heim Joint FAQ
Also, "ball joint rod ends":
"Rod end joint"/"Heim joint":
Similar terminology, two rather different things.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,555
Likes: 40
From: Concord, NC
I didn't say ball joint. From your link:
That's what is linked to at McMaster-carr in the first post.
Q: Where did the Heim Joint come from?
A: The Rod End was an amazing new component found on the high-tech control systems of a captured German fighter plane, shot down by the British, early in World War II. H.G. Heim Company was given an exclusive patent to manufacture the joints in North America. After the patent ran out, the name "Heim" stuck as a slang term.
A: The Rod End was an amazing new component found on the high-tech control systems of a captured German fighter plane, shot down by the British, early in World War II. H.G. Heim Company was given an exclusive patent to manufacture the joints in North America. After the patent ran out, the name "Heim" stuck as a slang term.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: VT
That's what Mcmaster calls what you are calling heim joint. If you had looked at the link I had in the first post you would have seen that it's the same thing. The actual item I was referring to is technically a rod end, that has a ball joint insert.
Thanks for the advice EPNCSU2006
Thanks for the advice EPNCSU2006
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From: VT
