Some strut bushing info
That's actually a lot misinformation! And as usual, very incorrect.
The do swivel. Many people use the slang "Swivel Joint" when referring to Heim Joints. But they are also called "Rod Ends", "Spherical Rod Ends", "Mechanical Rod Ends" or "Bearing Rod Ends". QA1 manufactures some of the best on the market, you won't see them listed as "Heim" joins by them in their advertising. Because they aren't the H.G. Heim Company that holds the patent.
Usually they are listed to have between 5 to around 20 degrees of swivel for most automotive application. Some are manufactured to "Swivel" on some Heim joints as much as 65 degrees. You would need to look up the manufacturing drawings and specs to know how much they "swivel", but they all do to some degree. It all depends on how much load you need them to carry.
The fact that they do "Swivel" is also the main reason they prematurely fail. If you were to have the axis of the ball close to the degree limit they were designed for (say 18 degrees in the attached picture), the rod end portion will dig into the ball. They work their best when installed close to 90 degrees so the loads are carried correctly through the race between the ball and rod end. I saw pictures on FAO where a guy installed Hotchkis upper control arms on his Challenger and did just that.
Been using them for 30 years on suspension R&D test fixtures for GM. Installed correctly they can get cycled a million times. Installed incorrect I've seen them wasted in under 100 cycles.
That's actually a lot misinformation! And as usual, very incorrect.
The do swivel. Many people use the slang "Swivel Joint" when referring to Heim Joints. But they are also called "Rod Ends", "Spherical Rod Ends", "Mechanical Rod Ends" or "Bearing Rod Ends". QA1 manufactures some of the best on the market, you won't see them listed as "Heim" joins by them in their advertising. Because they aren't the H.G. Heim Company that holds the patent.
Usually they are listed to have between 5 to around 20 degrees of swivel for most automotive application. Some are manufactured to "Swivel" on some Heim joints as much as 65 degrees. You would need to look up the manufacturing drawings and specs to know how much they "swivel", but they all do to some degree. It all depends on how much load you need them to carry.
The fact that they do "Swivel" is also the main reason they prematurely fail. If you were to have the axis of the ball close to the degree limit they were designed for (say 18 degrees in the attached picture), the rod end portion will dig into the ball. They work their best when installed close to 90 degrees so the loads are carried correctly through the race between the ball and rod end. I saw pictures on FAO where a guy installed Hotchkis upper control arms on his Challenger and did just that.
Been using them for 30 years on suspension R&D test fixtures for GM. Installed correctly they can get cycled a million times. Installed incorrect I've seen them wasted in under 100 cycles.
