heim steering

[Vanimal]

i dont think you'll get any more or less misalignment with 7/8" heims over 3/4". the scale of them shouldnt matter.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Cool thanks dan. Now, will I be shearing 5/8 bolts all the time? If it is once in a while I don't mind. They are easy enough to change and carry spares. I'm concerned about how often. Most, if not all, will be in single shear. I might double shear the passenger side, haven't decided.

Also, are the knuckles cast iron? I have a inverter stick machine and I can pickup some nickel rod and do it right with pre/post heat, etc.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

someone correct me if im wrong...

but on your steering links, you want to run a 3/4" bolt. drilling the knuckles and pitman arm to 3/4" completely removes the taper in them, while something smaller like 5/8" would leave some of it there.

 

[Vanimal]

i run 3/4" heims on my tie rod with no misalignment spacers along with a 3/4" bolt threaded into the knuckle with a nut on the bottom. i have inverted t steering so the drag link goes to the tie rod instead of the knuckle. the knuckles are cast iron.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

someone correct me if im wrong...

but on your steering links, you want to run a 3/4" bolt. drilling the knuckles and pitman arm to 3/4" completely removes the taper in them, while something smaller like 5/8" would leave some of it there.

My understand was with the high misalignment spacers you had to run a 5/8 bolt because it fits inside the heim. Does that make sense? Maybe I am totally off base. This is my first venture with heims.

i run 3/4" heims on my tie rod with no misalignment spacers along with a 3/4" bolt threaded into the knuckle with a nut on the bottom. i have inverted t steering so the drag link goes to the tie rod instead of the knuckle. the knuckles are cast iron.

I was originally going to go otk jcr 1-ton, which is a inverted t. This is pretty much just a toy now, so I think a little dead spot in the steering won't be bad. So Maybe I should consider an inverted-t with heims.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

My understand was with the high misalignment spacers you had to run a 5/8 bolt because it fits inside the heim. Does that make sense? Maybe I am totally off base. This is my first venture with heims.

my understanding:
- tie rod --> 3/4" heims with safter washers
- drag link --> 7/8" heims with 3/4" misalignment spacers

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Sweet. That makes a whole lot more sense. In fact, I feel like an idiot...

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Well, It looks like I might be holding off on the upgrade and selling the axles, wheels and tires and going to full-widths... Then I'll look into building the heim steering again but with 7/8 heims all around.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Boss Cherokee]

Gracias Souske. I will go the heim route.after I.check the condition of the tre's.

 

[zachandandy]

The knuckles are cast steel not cast iron. You can weld to them with a high amp mig.

It's a dana 44 front, 7/8" heims, 3/4" steel middle arm, top arm and side plating is 3/8". The bolt runs through the stock hole and additional bracing. This pic was before I got the 8" bolt, so it is too short and only has a jam nut on it. It now has full solid shank inside the joints, with a lock washer and a lock nut.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I've got a 250 class mig so I should be able to get enough heat to be safe. I think that a hp44 is what I'm going to be running shortly anyways instead of the 30

 

[zachandandy]

Mines only a 175. I beveled the 3/4" and ran 4 passes, 2 passes on the 3/8".

 

[sunburned]

I have 7/8" heims on the drag link and 3/4" heims on the tie rod. Only misalignment spacers are on the pitman arm, which I double sheared. Tie rod heims just have safety washers.

The only way to get the tie rod to clear everything OTK is to move the coil buckets back or bend it out away from them. One guy on here said he broke his 1.5" die like 3 times and welded it back together before he could make the 2 bends on the 1.5" dia, 0.25" wall tubing.

And you could run this for the drag link. I can't because it would hit my RCVs.

http://www.bluetorchfab.com/Product/981/BTF-Cross-Over-Steering-Bracket-for-Dana-30-44-Knuckle.aspx

 

[jeeperjohn]

I have been running this: http://bulletproofsteering.com/jeeppricingoptions.html
for several years and have had no issues at all. The heims are still good and it has been daily driven all along.

 

[ktm racer 419]

I have been running this: http://bulletproofsteering.com/jeeppricingoptions.html
for several years and have had no issues at all. The heims are still good and it has been daily driven all along.

Holy smokes! 1997 called, they want thier website design back.

I am not seeing any photos either. Just curious as to what they sell.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Holy smokes! 1997 called, they want thier website design back.

I am not seeing any photos either. Just curious as to what they sell.

No kidding!! That is impossible to look at. From what i saw the prices looked pretty steep.

 

[souske]

Looks like my middle school computer class project....

 

[Boss Cherokee]

The knuckles are cast steel not cast iron. You can weld to them with a high amp mig.

It's a dana 44 front, 7/8" heims, 3/4" steel middle arm, top arm and side plating is 3/8". The bolt runs through the stock hole and additional bracing. This pic was before I got the 8" bolt, so it is too short and only has a jam nut on it. It now has full solid shank inside the joints, with a lock washer and a lock nut.

Looks good!! I have no problem welding on cast steel with my 220 Lincoln Mig. I welded my coil pucks and link arm brackets on my van's Dana 60 with it! I just think the one ton tre's, for my application (Dana 44 chrommoly 31 spline axle inners with max tire size of 37's) are more than sufficient. I think heims, in steering are not needed till you cross 38's and up. But that's my opinion. I think the heims look really cool and do great just not for me yet! That's a big YET! I may move to them in the future but for now I've decided I'm sticken with the tre's!

 

[jeeperjohn]

Holy smokes! 1997 called, they want thier website design back.

I am not seeing any photos either. Just curious as to what they sell.

Yeah, I have to agree their website sucks but they sell the most durable steering components I have ever seen.

 

[Boss Cherokee]

Legality varies by location
in SoCal, the consensus is that heims are good to go.

Seems your right! I just found an old article about hydro steering and heims in the Four Wheeler magazine that also said full hydro is Federaly legal but may vary in your state!!