ballistic fab 7/8 heim steering question

JeepAddict85

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Nashville, TN
recently bought the full steering kit...wondering how to install a few of the spacers that came with it.

here are all the spacers/etc:

heimfittings003.jpg


(99 percent sure)the tall ones on bottom left go on the drag link, shorter ones go on tie rod...but how do the top 4 go on?

here's a close up:
heimfittings002.jpg


thanks for any help you guys can give
 
The "large " flat side goes against your tab or mounting surface.
The narrow end goes against the heim. The idea is you are now allowing the joint to flex to it's maximum instead of it hitting a surface and stopping flex.

The tall ones in the lower left look like reducers. (reducing it from 7/8 to a smaller diamiter(sp).

If these fit inside the 7/8 hole on the joint they are reducers.
Good luck.

For the knuckles you do not need any spacers.(or should I say I didn't use any because it doesn't flex) You will however need then for the pitman arm, drag link, panhard/track bar.
Are you stacking them on the passanger side or are you doing flat tops??

Are they the QA1's or the Midwest??(expensive or cheap??)
I just got my steering stuff from them and it took 3 weeks.
I was kinda pissed!
Stukboy
 
Its Ballistic, it can take 6 months and they don't have explanations. If you call, you just get "it will ship out first of next week." You can call every week and get the same answer. I have been waiting on some stuff from them for about 2 weeks now for the LS2 XJ, and it still hasn't showed yet. Luckily, the parts I ordered are the same as some of the ones on Betty (the buggy I am building) so I can steal them from it if they don't show this week. One more thing to rag on Ballistic about: They offer high steer arms in both a 3 hole and a 4 hole design and you can order with hardware. The catch, even the 4 hole arms only come with 3 studs... their explanation was that they only send 3 per side b/c that's all that factory knuckles use. Well dumb asses, don't you think that if I only had 3 holes I would have ordered the 3 hole arms that are a few dollars cheaper??? So now we had to spend 30 minutes on the phone bitching and arguing about it to spend another $28 to get studs out to us and have them here this week. Ballistic is a necessary evil of the off road industry. They have pretty good prices, and cool products, but they take forever, and half the time when you get it, its wrong.

But to answer your question Greg, The biger "washer" looking things go above and below the heims for the tie rod, and the reducers go inside of those same holes. The high misalignment spacers go in the drag link and allow it to flex better. The idea behind the "washers" is that if you slam the tie rod into a rock, it could, though highly unlikely, push the "ball" out of its housing on the heim. The "washer" keeps the housing fomr coming all of the way off and completely failing.

That make sense?

BTW, are you coming to the crawl?
 
i have had good luck with everything from ballistic...just the lack of instructions gets me. ive never installed heims before with these spacers (the rock krawler ones on my long arms dont use them). this is the 7/8th down to 3/4 full heim steering setup by the way.

I wont be able to make it to the Crawl tyler...Im going to the jeep jamboree at snowshoe mtn in west virginia with a few friends. im leavin on the 3rd so really trying to get my junk done!


Appreciate all the info guys, ill be able to get the steering in tonight!
 
those look like safety washers, you use them when mounting a heim joint in single shear. if the heim fails, it wont let the bolt pull thru the heim.
 
Can you put up pics when your done? I have been studying steering options for mine and I haven't had any luck finding good pics of BF system.

sure, tie rod and drag link are already done, just wanted to make sure i put it together right.
 
and this thread has nothing to do with my track bar, you've already given your opinion on it, i dont need to hear it twice.
 
Yeah, seems like a lot of work and expense to still have the tie rod under the knuckle. Looks like I need to put my money where my mouth is and come out with an easy to install and strong OTK steering design with good geometry, where the drag link ends aren't already near the end of their available travel.
 
Yeah, seems like a lot of work and expense to still have the tie rod under the knuckle. Looks like I need to put my money where my mouth is and come out with an easy to install and strong OTK steering design with good geometry, where the drag link ends aren't already near the end of their available travel.

well it was a necessary expense...since i didnt have any steering on this axle before. and i can always move the tie rod up if i feel like it, im not concerned about it with how i wheel.
 
Yeah, seems like a lot of work and expense to still have the tie rod under the knuckle. Looks like I need to put my money where my mouth is and come out with an easy to install and strong OTK steering design with good geometry, where the drag link ends aren't already near the end of their available travel.

Well hurry up then!
Need a tester? I'm getting close to re-doing mine :D
 
thats what i had Its a pretty good setup, but lots of bumpsteer tho and get ready to replace those heims.

He's already heard this... remember, he's tired of hearing it. Will it work? Yes. Will it dirve like crap on road? Yes. But will it work O-K off road? Most likely. As long as he is ok with a lot of bump steer and deosn't mind that the heims wont last, then is a good setup for him. I wouldn't run it, but that's me and I am a perfectionist. Stuff like that drives me crazy, especially when there is a clear solution to the problem that wouldn't have been any harder.

I guess what I am saying is to leave it be. He's not going to change it at this point. Let him wheel it as is. I think he is planning on going to a 60 anyway, so when he does, he can change his design then if he doesn't like this.
 
He's already heard this... remember, he's tired of hearing it. Will it work? Yes. Will it dirve like crap on road? Yes. But will it work O-K off road? Most likely. As long as he is ok with a lot of bump steer and deosn't mind that the heims wont last, then is a good setup for him. I wouldn't run it, but that's me and I am a perfectionist. Stuff like that drives me crazy, especially when there is a clear solution to the problem that wouldn't have been any harder.

I guess what I am saying is to leave it be. He's not going to change it at this point. Let him wheel it as is. I think he is planning on going to a 60 anyway, so when he does, he can change his design then if he doesn't like this.

When did I say i would drive this on the street? i said i was tired of hearing you knock my trackbar (when ive already said it will be fine for the trip), this thread was about the drag link an tie rod. and so what if i have to change a few heims after my trip? if i am unhappy with the steering, i will get the knuckle drilled and tapped (already have the flat tops), and run true high steer. thats only if i decide to keep the 44.

you may see a better way to do it, but you know what, this is my first major build with actual fabricating involved. im doing the best i can and learning as i go. i know its not perfect, but im trying. besides that, i have a deadline and am leaving on a trip, the jeep needs to be finished for it. i appreciate pointers, but theres no need to be an a-hole about it just cuz you can do something better, or have more experience. hell, 3 years ago i didnt know a damn thing about suspension.
 
I think what most people are trying to tell you is, yes there is a better way to do the steering. Will yours work, sure, but you will most likely end up going back and re doing it. I think the comments here are just trying to steer you in the direction (no pun intended) of "do it right the first time so you dont have to do it again." Constructive criticism thats all. We are just trying to help you out and maybe save you some time and money.
 
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