Hey guys... Wondering if any of yall are running aluminum sleeves/heim joints for tie rods. How do you like them? Is there any deflection? Toe change in the corners? Do any of you guys have a source for bearing idler arms? Lastly, I've been trying to picture what would happen if you put cross steer on an indpendent front suspension. I'm imagining all kinds of mayem and destruction, but anyone got some thoughts on what would blow up? Thinking that through the suspension droop the cross arm would get pinched together, up through the swing it'd get stretched... combination of both when the body rolls. I'm just dumb enough that I may have to toss some stuff together and see for myself. Thanks
just make it thicker n' ****, but my gut says: keep it steel, i aint super crazy about using aluminium on stuff like that. i dont think you can run a solid cross bar on an indy front (you need to build something with lots of linkages and pitman arms like any later set up.)
i don't think anyone makes aluminum heim joints , i don't think i would use them if they did speedway does sell aluminum tie rods and drag links with 5/8-18 thread http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/paging.yes/dept_id.179/display_id.2131/qx/Product.htm
I think I'd keep aluminum out of the suspension and steering, one big pothole at speed could be disastrous. Or maybe not. But I think I'd rather not take the chance.
sounds like a minimal weight savings at the cost of less strength on something i'd rather not break. aluminum is much more brittle than steel and has considerably less tensile strength.
Yeah... Sorry about the confusion, aluminum sleeves, and chromemoly/teflon heims. Sounds like something that isnt all that popular. (Grin) Time for somebody to build a cast axle, cast spindle, aluminum tie rod... suicide frame'd monospring rig with a scrub line that requires steel toed boots. (I crack myself up.) I'm after some weight savings, this stuff is pretty cheap in cost... but expensive if it breaks! Thanks
Yes, they do make aluminum heim joints. I have a 1 1/4 inch one I got at a aircraft surplus place. You can find them through places that sell aircraft/aerospace supplies. They are very strong because they are made from the right alloys. Yes, aluminum would be plenty strong for tie rods. If you got thick wall 6061 T-6 aluminum and tapped the ends for tie rods it would be sweet. Don't weld on them though. That gets rid of the heat treat. Plus you can polish them up nice. If you do decide to get heim joints whether they are chromoly or aluminum make sure and get teflon lined ones. They last longer and are worlds quieter. If you just get the metal to metal ones they will be driving you nuts in no time. Try http://www.hmengineering.netfirms.com/products.htm They always had the best prices on heims and other fab parts when I was building long travel trucks. Good luck.
Alot of guys use aluminum on Jeep ****. Its a product called alumiflex (http://www.macromotive.com/shopping/goShopping.cfm?tag=4.2.11.144.3572.22780). The one I linked to is what I using. It will bend and deform when hit by something, but always bounce back to its original shape. Or you could try some 6061T6 Aluminum tubing: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/mepages/alumtube_6061t6.php 6061 is pretty damn strong by itself, then heat treat it to T6 it gets ultra tough.
Its what sprint cars use at 800 hp thru the mud, guts, ruts and holes. I'd check 'em every now and then for wear since they aren't sealed and sprint cars wreck and replace them regularly.
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