Rod Ends..Do and Dont's?
 

I need to buy a set for a 4-link I am setting up. This is my first time(ladder bar before) and need 3/4-16 w/.750 bore....What do I look for and what do I avoid like the plague? Chromoly is a given and a high stensile strength is a must, but what else? One piece, 2 , 3? Teflon, Kevlar? I see ads for some over $100 each and some for $15....all rated about the same give or take 500 pounds...

What do you say?

Re: Rod Ends..Do and Dont's?
 

You should never have to pay more than about $35-$40 for a good quality chrome-moly 3/4" rod end. ...........If you regulary clean and lubricate the ends, you dont need teflon lined ends,they dont last any longer than a properly maintained non lined end ..........I've never had any issues with the brand S&W race cars sells. , ....I've also used the QA1 ends with no problems. ...........Keep em clean and inspect them regularly, and they'll all last about the same.........If you have the extra side clearance ,invest in a set of Seals It washers. .....They do an excellent job of keeping out the abrasive dirt that kills a rod end. .....Tom

Re: Rod Ends..Do and Dont's?
 

So load cap. should really be the biggest factor..chromoly w/liner and rating around the 27-28,000 range from the looks of things.

I'm not looking for someone to tell which ones to use, I understand the liabilities of that, I am just looking for a baseline someplace. The chassis place I bought the kit from also suggests a mix of 4 lower mild steel ends to go with 4 top chromoly ends. Their thinking is that the bottom ends are subject to compression and hense less stress than the top ends which are trying to pull themselves apart..

Makes sense on paper, but I don't know about reallity

Re: Rod Ends..Do and Dont's?
 

You are correct on the load capacity. also, If your bracket holes are 5/8" be sure to use heims with a 5/8"ball ,dont use sleeves in a 3/4" rod end to reduce them . ....The 3/4"x5/8" ends have a higher capacity..........Yes the upper rod ends are stressed much harder than the bottom ones are,however for the few dollars difference ,I always use CM ends on all the bars. .....Also pay carefull attention to the 4-link bolts, something even some of the better suppliers of 4-link kits overlook or ignore. ........Make sure no part of the threads is in either the rod end or the brackets. .......NAS bolts with the proper underhead legnth are a little pricy,but money well spent.

Re: Rod Ends..Do and Dont's?
 

Thanx Tom, I bought some QA1 XM-12's today....should be fine for what I am doing..

Thanx again

Re: Rod Ends..Do and Dont's?
 

We only use & sell FK Rod Ends - 100% American made!