Anyone converted to the Heim Joint, Steering Linkage???

[bowhunter]

Hello everyone,

Getting tired of the T-style steering linkage and the way it handles. Getting ready to convert.

Anyone using Tom's Bronco Parts Heim Joint, Steering Linkage? or Extreme linkage? If there is someone else out there making the conversion, who are they?

Are recommendations or modifications that should be made during the swap? Positives? Negatives? etc.

Everyones comments are always welcome and I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say.

Thanks,

Dale B.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I'm running custom linkage by Baertrax (and REALLY happy with it).
Stonecrusher has a complete kit for the Bronc for a very reasonable price. Do a quick search of this forum for his contact info.

It'll be leaps and bounds stronger than the stock linkage. For a mall crawler, you won't notice any benefits, on a trail driven rig you'll notice it very quickly. It's a worthy upgrade.

 

[JKrieg70]

I've got the stone crusher steering setup on mine. Got the track bar and everything for around 300 during a mass buy at the first part of the year. It was a great upgrade and easy to do. Overall strength is a huge improvement, adjustability of the front end is much better, and my steering tightened up alot, which was definitely and improvement. I would highly reccommend the upgrade. You can do a search for stone crusher and find alot of info. Hope this helps, Justin

 

[bowhunter]

Okay - Dumb question.......can you buy the stonecrusher steering system online?

 

[sstlaure]

Okay - Dumb question.......can you buy the stonecrusher steering system online?

They've got all kinds of kits at JBG.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I have been running the Performance Unlimited heim joint steering for years (longer then stone crusher has been around). I love it, no problems.

When researching parts for mine I found the biggest difference in quality is the heim joints. I have an "aircraft grade" heim I picked up a while back and thought it was really good. When I got the parts from Performance Unlimited I could tell that the heims were much better. If fact it kind of scares me that this sloppy junk is actually used on planes.

 

[68 Broncoholic]

Make sure you get a high misalignment rod end for the drag link.

 

[JKrieg70]

try this:

stone crusher

hope that helps, just give him a call, he was helpful and friendly on the phone with me

 

[shifter]

I use the performance unlimited bulletproof steering and adjustable track bar. It really tightens up the steering and overall feel. The adjustability of these type systems is great!

 

[TOFIC]

Hello everyone,

Getting tired of the T-style steering linkage and the way it handles. Getting ready to convert.

Anyone using Tom's Bronco Parts Heim Joint, Steering Linkage? or Extreme linkage? If there is someone else out there making the conversion, who are they?

Are recommendations or modifications that should be made during the swap? Positives? Negatives? etc.

Everyones comments are always welcome and I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say.

Thanks,

Dale B.

Dale

I am using a heim jointed steering system. I did not buy it but had it made up with a machinist here in my town. We used 3/4 heim joints and 1 and 1/4" 4140 chrome moly steel for the rods. replaced everything from the pitman arm out with this setup. Looks factory and one he*l of a lot stronger. Cost me about 200 dollars complete. Made no modifications to the steering components of my 73, just duplicated then with the heavier rods and joints.

MUCHO happy with my conversion. WAY tighter steering and a lot easier to service. I used aircraft grade Heim joints although the machinist said I did not need to. I have had no trouble with my system and have been running it for about 2 years.

TOFIC

 

[73stallion]

another question guys, what's the average life of a heim joint tie rod system? i've heard that heim joints don't last as long as regular tie rod ends, right or wrong?

if the life expectancy is close to the same, i'd probably go ahead and buy BC's kit with the studs.

 

[cracker]

Here is a picture of my setup that I fabbed over 5 yrs. ago. It is still working just fine, and I do not baby it! I use 5/8 heim joints w/ 35's. Just make sure to use hem joints that do not have the teflon liners. I tried them once, and they wore out in less than 2 months. I use solid joints now, and have used these joints for apporx. 2 yrs now.

 

[Broncobowsher]

another question guys, what's the average life of a heim joint tie rod system? i've heard that heim joints don't last as long as regular tie rod ends, right or wrong?

if the life expectancy is close to the same, i'd probably go ahead and buy BC's kit with the studs.

Life expectancy is proportional to quality. cheap joints stretch out and becoe sloppy easily. (don't even consider aluminium). My joints were about the best I could find about 3 years ago. Just had one off not long ago and they are still good and tight. That is with use in that nice super abrasive Arizona dust that can kill anything. So far better then the last drag link I had on there.

 

[bowhunter]

Well - After talking with Chuck at BC Broncos and doing some research. I have decided to purchase the BC Broncos Heim joint kit. I like the simplicity of the kit and the price (about $100) cheaper than the rest.

Once delivered and installed, I will report back on the "new" steering characteristics.

 

[73stallion]

glad to hear the horror storys are wrong. i am puting chuck's heim track bar on, so maybe i'll do the tie rods too.

what do you guys use to lube them, or do you?