rose joints, heim joints, spherical rod ends. they are all the same thing.
but what i am moved to caution about these joints is that there are an
amazing amount of these joints in varying qualities fron real cheap ones
that i would not use on a shopping cart to items of aerospace almost bullet
proof quality. also thara are difrent types of ball and socket
combinations. such as a steel ball in a captive brass socket, a steel ball
in a nylon impregnated(cast under pressure) socket. some are greaseable
with a grease nipple attached, some have groves cut into the ball to retain
grease and require being unbolted and rotating the ball to hand pack the
joint. there are male(external thread) and female(internal thread) and
right hand and left hand thread joints.
when chosing the upper rear controll arm joints for my h-modified sports
racer i was offered so many choices i was baffled so i asked the local
bearing suply house to "educate" me as to what they were talking about. i
had never really thought about the difrent levels of aplication, strength,
and quality available on the market. previously i had dealt with adjustable
upper links on my bugeye's 1/4 eliptic spring rear suspension . but those
rod ends came with the likks and i did not have to "shop" for the pieces,
and when i had to replace a joint a few years ago i just went to the bearing
suply house and asked for "a new one of those just like that one". no
decision there on my part.
ifyou are going to design and fabricate a panhard rod may i sugest that you
also consider another thing most often overlooked with spherical rod ends.
captive washers! if you are using a spherical rod end on a car in a
location where it can self destruct from abuse and or the elements it can
wear out to the point that it can literally pop apart (ball coming out of
the socket). the term captive washer is refering to a retaining washer
between a bolt and the ball in the joint that is large enough to retain the
pieces of a joint in case of a failure in the joint. they sell captive
washers that are beveled on the outer edges and are hardened for this
specifi purpose, but they are real expensive for what apear to be a normal
washer. they are not normal at all! the beveled edge on 1 side is meant to
face the joint and is done so as to allow the motion in the joint without
contacting the joint in the critical aerea wich retains the ball wich would
wear away the joint causing premature failure of the joint. you do not
want to have the rod drop off while racing or traveling out on a club outing
or when you are taking your buddy for a " these cars are great" drive to
show someone how neat these cars handle.
be safe, be smart, be educated and do not get hurt.
we return you to your previously programed show, cold starts , old farts and
the cats who love them! he-he-he! or was that," as the stomach turns"?
chuck who reads too much and has broken WAY TOO MUCH!
remember! in the world of safety there are no cheap parts! do not shop for
the cheapest joints because the expensive ones were (so you thought) too
expensive. the really cheap ones are really cheap!!!
back to the rock chuck.......*taking another book* ...........well if i
gotta!!!
|