BEST Heim... last set were checked regularly and lasted 12 yrs

[nvrstuk]

So my track bar heims lasted barely 2 years... I used to get one year out of poly bushings...think I bought my first poly replacement from KBarS back in the early '80's...I think..anyway... (didn't James Duff win a SEMA award for the replacement poly bushings way back when?)

I bought the track bar w/heims from a place that was on the old EBML and BroncoFix lists about 20 years ago (Performance Unlimited??) and they were touted as having being made from 911 material... those got hammered and lasted till about 3 years ago.

New ones lasted barely 2 years... I realize heims are a replaceable part but didn't last long when compared to the first set...

What brand is the best wearing, longest lasting and toughest??

thanks

 

[Apogee]

EMF makes nice stuff, and it's rebuildable. Otherwise I've always had good luck with the higher end FK and Aurora spherical rod ends on my race quad. Other than the beastly rod ends on my CAGE arms, I don't have any others on my EB for comparison.

 

[Hozr]

Boots! Keep the road salt/rock out in the winter

https://www.kartek.com/parts-categories/rod-end-dust-boots.html

 

[toddz69]

So my track bar heims lasted barely 2 years... I used to get one year out of poly bushings...think I bought my first poly replacement from KBarS back in the early '80's...I think..anyway... (didn't James Duff win a SEMA award for the replacement poly bushings way back when?)

I bought the track bar w/heims from a place that was on the old EBML and BroncoFix lists about 20 years ago (Performance Unlimited??) and they were touted as having being made from 911 material... those got hammered and lasted till about 3 years ago.

New ones lasted barely 2 years... I realize heims are a replaceable part but didn't last long when compared to the first set...

What brand is the best wearing, longest lasting and toughest??

thanks

Were the replacement ones that only lasted 2 years from Performance Unlimited?

Randall stakes those things so darn tight that they do last longer than nearly any other brand out there (I use them on my truck). Unfortunately they're only available in 3/4" x 3/4".

The pecking order in heims is usually NHBB at the top (priced accordingly) and then high end FK and Auroras like Apogee mentioned. And then all the others.

Todd Z.

 

[Apogee]

The pecking order in heims is usually NHBB at the top (priced accordingly) and then high end FK and Auroras like Apogee mentioned. And then all the others.

Todd Z.

Todd, where do you buy NHBB SRE's? I see their distributor page here, but wasn't sure if you had a specific source you liked.

 

[toddz69]

Back in the day, Baker Precision, bakerprecision.com, was the place to get them but since their website hasn't been updated since about 1999, I don't know if they are the go-to place anymore or not.

Todd Z.

 

[Yeller]

I've had very good success with FK. The 3pc non teflon chromemoly ones have been on my buggy and on their 3rd build on my bronco since 2004 and all still good. The steering on my bronco is squeaky but tight. Both get gently driven after church on Sundays

 

[nvrstuk]

Still laughing at the driven after church on Sundays quote!


Yes Todd, Both sets were from Per Unltd.

I just figured they went the China route...cheap!

I'll step up to Aurora's and FK...thanks!!

 

[TAC71]

Brian ...like Todd said NHBB are the best. I only have one on my truck and it lasts a long time, I also run the seals on it.

 

[DirtDonk]

Ruff Stuff had a nice spherical rod end I thought. Never personally used them, but they sound nice in the advertisements!

In the title of this thread you said they lasted "12" years? Was that the type, or was the 2 years the typo?
Maybe the trackbar is just seeing too much force put into a too-small rod end?
Not sure, but wanted to throw it out there to talk it over.

Paul

 

[nvrstuk]

Thanks for the recommendation Gary...I'll check out running the boots too.

 

[nvrstuk]

Paul, the original track bar with heims from Perf Unltd lasted 12 years with 35's and about 8 of those years were with 37's and a lot of wheeling.

I purchased the 2nd track bar and heims from Perf Unltd and discussed how great the life was on the original when purchasing the 2nd one...this second one only last a couple years of use.

 

[Hozr]

I just finished my track bar with RuffStuff heims yesterday. I'll let you know how she goes!

 

[nvrstuk]

Thanks Hozr...I'm running 12 of theirs so we can both report back but hopefully not for several years!!

 

[airman]

This is what I bought about 8 years ago. reverse thread too but only to 3/4"
https://www.mcmaster.com/#ball-joint-rod-ends/=1e3lc35