Rod Ends page 3


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	SELECTING ROD ENDS Page 3 Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD)




	The tabs were welded to the top of the spring perches to serve as lower mounts for the shock links.




		An acetylene torch was used to heat the lever shock arms and realign them to the new shock mount tabs on the spring perches.


	Links were made up utilizing two female QA1 XF and two male QA1 XM rod ends. When the male and female rod ends were combined they created an adjustable link of the necessary length for the application.

These were the rod ends that I chose (in various sizes) for the shock links, tie rod, drag link and Panhard bar.
QA1 Rod Ends
XF Rod Ends
2-Piece - Alloy Steel - Heat Treated  Teflon® / Kevlar® Self-Lubricating Race, Right & Left Hand Threads
Ball
52100 Bearing Steel
Heat Treated
Hard Chrome Plated
Precision Ground
Race
Kevlar® Reinforced Nylon 12 with PTFE
Body
Alloy Steel
Heat Treated
Protective Coated for Corrosion Resistance
Exclusive Features
Metal to Metal Support for Heavy Shock Loads
Increased Cross-Sectional Thickness for Greater Tensile Strength

XM Rod Ends
2-Piece - Alloy Steel - Heat Treated  Teflon® / Kevlar® Self-Lubricating Race, Right & Left Hand Threads
Ball
52100 Bearing Steel
Heat Treated
Hard Chrome Plated
Precision Ground
Race
Kevlar® Reinforced Nylon 12 with PTFE
Body
Alloy Steel
Heat Treated
Protective Coated for Corrosion Resistance
Exclusive Features
Metal to Metal Support for Heavy Shock Loads
Increased Cross-Sectional Thickness for Greater Tensile Strength


	The finished installation connects the lever shocks to the front suspension and allows for some of the misalignment that takes place as the suspension moves up and down.




			Dog Bone Shock Links Stock early Ford lever shocks used links called dog bones, because of their shape, to connect the ball on the lever shock arm and a ball on the spring perch. They are available with the socket on opposite sides or both on the same side




			Shock Link Ball If the ball mount is not present on one or both ends of the shock installation Speedway has this ball end stud that can be used in the installation of dog bone links. This ball is approximately 1/2" outside diameter. The overall length is 1-3/4". There is approximately 5/8" of 3/8 fine threads. Hex wrench size 3/4".

	Speedway Seal-It Heim Seals These rod end seals are a neoprene rubber seal bonded to an aircraft quality washer. Extends the life of your rod ends by keeping the dirt, debris and moisture out of the spherical ball. They fit on both sides of the ball end of the heim joint and are sized to match the hole in the spherical ball. Not considered necessary on sealed spherical rod ends

Adjustable Tie Rod Adapter Stud to Heim
This little adjustable tie rod adapter stud allows you to use 5/8" rod ends instead of OEM tie rods. It also allows you to adjust steering geometry.
Made of 4140 chrome moly and zinc coated. Choose from GM or Pinto. IMCA approved.

GM:
Stud is 5-1/8" long
Steering arm end has 7/16" thread
Tie rod end has 5/8" thread and is 3" long with 2-5/8" of thread
10 degree taper
Pinto:
Stud is 4-13/16" long
Steering arm end has 1/2" thread
Tie rod end has 5/8" thread and is 3" long with 2-5/8" of thread
7 degree taper




		Monroe Tie Rod Conversion Kit Converts any 1/2" bearing end shocks to tie rod end, 7� taper




	Round shock eye for use with Monroe tie rod conversion kit. Eye has a 1-1/4" diameter and has a 7� inner taper.

Summary: There are a lot of variables to consider when selecting rod ends. The major manufacturers and suppliers can and will supply a lot of advice as to which rod end you should use for a given application, but the final decision is yours. Included here is a lot of information that I learned while utilizing a variety of rod ends on my roadster project. I have also shown a few other pieces that may help with your current project, but doing your own research before making the final choice is advised.


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