I'm shure some of you have run across this site already, but for those of you that havent, the title says it all. Sorry if the link doesnt work, I'm not real experienced with this whole computer thing!!! http://128.83.200/taco/scarysteering.html

 

That's a great set of pictures and posts, isnt it? I couldnt stop laughing and wondering when I first found the link.

http://128.83.80.200/taco/scarysteering.html

I think this link should work, though.

 

That site is a classic. We were having lots of fun with it the other night. Makes you wonder what people are thinking when they build this stuff.

 

Its like looking at a trainwreck...you're horrified but you can't turn away. I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt. I always bash my own fab but when I look at that stuff I feel like a nasa engineer all of a sudden...

 

wow, some of that stuff is scary, but its so funny. wander who actually thinks those trucks are nice?

 

after looking at that site I ahve a question. Are heim joints ok to use for the road? I have a local 4x4 shop that was going to make a straight, not bent drag link for me using heims on each end, and a new straight tie rod using heims also. OK or not?

 

Don't use heims on a drag link. They can pop apart when they're set at an angle and have a good amount of pressure on them. They're fine to use on a tie rod but I've got to wonder why they wouldn't just use tie rod ends.

 

I have an 8 inch lift on a 95 F150 that I just switched to a solid D44. The junk yard tie rod ends from the solid D44 are a little worn (both the tie rod ends and drag link). They told me that they could build a drag link with heims and put it on top of the lower knuckle (so it would connect above the tie rod on the knucke instead of on the tie rod) which would make my angles (trac and drag) exacltly the same.

they said the heims handle angles better, and they can do it for about the price of getting everything from Ford. The new rods and ends were like 250 and they quoted me about 250-300. I do not do alot of four wheeling sorry to say, but i definteley need new TRE all the way around.

 

Wrong! It drives me nuts when these guys from shops give out bad and potentially dangerous information. When heims are loaded and put at angle to the race the ball of the heim wants to pop out...thus destroying the heim, and putting you in the ditch if you don't have washers to save the joint. Even then its a scary recovery. You can use heims on your tie road where the load is all lateral, but thats the only place you should use heims on your steering for a road vehicle.

 

I see, so the TRE's will not pop out after wear. Or is this so rare that it is not a worry. Is there a safety for the TRE's as well? The http://www.performanceunlimited.com/steering/ website seems to talk pretty high of the heims. I calle them first and they talked like they were preffered.

 

Haha. that is nuts. I like that Escalade, I've never seen so many shocks on one vehicle. And whats with using Ree-Bar on your truck suspension? Looks like sumthin I'd dream up in the redneck dreams I have.

 

Theres a reason no factory vehicle uses a heim joint on their front end but they all use tre's......

I'm sure the guys you talked to "prefer" using heims because they are trying to sell you some.

 

I bought an 83 Bronco years ago that had no engine, I knew that at one time the guy was putting a 460 in it but I assumed he never finished it and used it in something else. After I got the Bronco, someone told me that he didnt bother using proper engine mounts or a rear sump pan-he just set the engine on an old piece of seat foam on top of the crossmember and chained the engine down and suprisingly after a while, something started knocking in the engine!!!!! After the engine puked, he pulled it out and sold me the Bronco. When I finally got around to putting an engine in it I noticed the chuncks of chain still welded to the frame, so the tale must have been true!!!!!!!!!

 

You just gotta love that reebar, jeeze what a retard (corney, yeah i know)

 

It's not pretty, but it looks stout. Except for the lack of welding and the undercuts on the braces. If properly done the re-bar would work fine as big as that stuff was. You have to remember that not everyone is as educated as us, or has any money. They just want to have fun, hopefully not taking a life with it, but to many people their life or yours isn't worth the worry anyway. That's why we have laws and hopefully semi-knowledgeable people enforcing them.

I have to admit though, the pics and the narrative are pretty entertaining.

Later.