Heim joint TRO questions.

[dsg40th]

Anyone have issues or get rejected on state inspection for having a non OEM style Heim joint steering? I need to do a TRO swap, I'm considering the Ruff Stuff Chevy 1 ton TRO or the 7/8" Heim kit.
Also any issues with wear and slop with the heim joints? I noticed they are not readily greaseable.

 

[jmangi62]

I just bought the 7/8 kit,couldn't pass it up with that coupon deal,I'm hoping it's a tighter feel on the steering wheel,less slop,I'm also hoping when I go to the DMV they'll overlook it,as I've heard they're not really that strict about stuff like that around here.I'm just gonna tell them it's mostly a trail truck anyways,which it is,good luck

 

[dsg40th]

I think I'm going in the direction of the 1 ton shitvy kit. Mostly out of fear of being rejected on inspection, Maine is real tough on safety inspections. Looking at moving to NH faily soon too and they can be difficult on safety inspections as well. I just don't want to chance spending the money twice to replace the new heim joint kit with another new OEM style kit.

 

[jmangi62]

Yep I' gonna keep my D30 under there for the inspection then pull it out and install my D44 with the 7/8 kit,LOL a lil bit sneaky

 

[Broncobowsher]

That's going to vary from state to state more than anything else.
I have never lived in a state where it would be inspected.
At one time I worked in Missouri that did safety inspections. Considering the amount of blown shocks, snapped sway bar end links, rattling ball joints and tie rod ends that would cause fails. A tight heim joint suspension/steering should pass so long as the inspector has been around the block a few times. But each state is different. I would stop by whoever does your inspections and just ask them outright. If they are cool with it, great. If they are not, ask if there is a specific requirement that would make them fail? If they insist on a rubber seal around the joint, Speedway Motors has rubber seal washers for rod ends.

 

[ransil]

mine are both heim joints, if I were to do it over again I would do the chevy 1 ton steering. I have had no issues with the Heims just think off the shelf local parts is a better setup.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The one thing about heim over 1-ton steering stuff, you can dial out the bumpsteer. It is easy to swap over to under and/or put shims in to adjust the angles. Do what you need to get the arcs to travel correctly. With the 1-ton stuff you taper the holes, plug it in, and get what you get. Very minor shimming have make a noticeable change in bumpsteer.

 

[dsg40th]

What I have is a narrowed 79 Dana 44. It has the stock 79 knuckles that the steering arms are cast in a lower position. I'm running stock 68 Bronco steering linkage (under) with a 3.5" lift 4x4x2 PS box with drop pitman arm. Due the the knuckle arms being that much lower my drag link is at a fairly steep angle even with the drop pitman arm. I'm also running a drop track bar bracket that I have had in and taken out just to try it without. I still get some bump steer but quite a bit more of back and forth body to axle movement over bumps, backing up in reverse or during up shifting without the track bar drop in due to a steeper track bar angle.
The plan is to do the tie rod over to reduce the drag link angle quite a bit then fabricate an adjustable track bar riser on the axle so I can over come all or at least most all of both the bump steer and body to axle side to side movement under suspension travel.
I also like the fact that the shitvy parts are just around the corner when replacement is needed.
Point well taken, I do like the sounds of the adjustability the heim joint kit offers as well.
Tough decision another good point is I'll have to check into some inspection stations to see what their take is on a heim kit. For now it seems the 1 ton kit might be the way to go for me, but I'll have to do some more research and thinking on it.

 

[dsg40th]

Finally installed the TRO also had to fabricate a track bar riser. All in all it turned out well, got rid of the dropped pitman arm and the frame mounted track bar drop bracket.

 

[dsg40th]

The fabricated track bar riser.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Might want to flip that nut over and tighten it down. Add the cotter key as well.

 

[DirtDonk]

Good lookin' stuff! Nice that you got what looks like a longer trackbar now too.

If you find your tie-rod rotates too much as you steer back and forth (more common as the rod ends wear in and get a little loose) Ruff-Stuff Specialties has what they call "the cure" which is just a disc that fits into the lower draglink rod end location to tighten it up a bit. It doesn't stop it completely, but enough that you can notice a little tighter steering.

Paul

 

[sykanr0ng]

Heim steering is not DOT legal, you may get away with it at an inspection station.

But, if there is ever an accident where someone gets badly hurt or killed the attorneys for everyone else will show you what it's like to be in a shark feeding frenzy when you are not one of the sharks.

 

[dsg40th]

Yeah that's I figured and yes the track bar bolt is only in for locating purpose in the picture. It has been replaced with a new Grade 8. The nut was on backwards because I used it to pound it out the stock location with a sledge.

 

[dsg40th]

Not that I'd ever want to be in the defense due to a serious accident....and my personal feeling is that Heim joints are not DOT legal but I would think that the prosecution would have to prove that a Heim joint steering failure was without doubt the single root cause of the accident before coming to a negligent finding. But I stil would not want to find out or be in that shark tank.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Do remember, in a civil suit the standard of "proof" is much lower.