Basic Heim Steering Questions

[shortbussrydah]

I want to upgrade my steering linkage, and like the idea of the DOM tubing and heim setup.
My understanding of it so far is get DOM tube with the proper inside diameter, tap it to fit, say, a 5/8' thread, right handed on one side and left handed on the other, drill out the knuckles to fit the 5/8 heims, bolt it all together and tada, heim steering.

so, with that elementary understanding, what else needs to be done? will this setup interfere with the track bar? if so, how do i correct that?

Thanks

 

[wingnutooa]

it depends on how you hook up your steering.

if you find a way to make the tie rod stationary so it wont pivot you could drill and weld a boss into it and put your steering back.

if you dont, you simply run another heim'd rod for steering and take it to the hub with the tie rod.

then you would have to modify your track bar angle to keep the appropriate steering geometry

 

[xcm]

3/4 is minimum, many use 7/8ths.

unless you bend the tubing, you'll hit swaybar mounts, coil buckets, and diff cover. it'll also change your steering angles, possibly causing bumpsteer.
also, the larger taps, right and left handed, will add some to the budget as well.

 

[Larrythedog]

3/4 is minimum, many use 7/8ths.

unless you bend the tubing, you'll hit swaybar mounts, coil buckets, and diff cover. it'll also change your steering angles, possibly causing bumpsteer.
also, the larger taps, right and left handed, will add some to the budget as well.

X2 3/4" should be your minimum size. 11/16 is the tap drill used for 3/4" fine thread. Look for DOM tubing with a ID of 11/16".

 

[jmaxj]

1.25 x .281 wall DOM will tap perfectly for a 3/4x16 shanked heim.

 

[yossarian19]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned tube adapters. They are a little sleeve that fits inside the tube, welds to the end & the inside of the sleeve is threaded for heims or whatever.
Ruffstuff Specialities, a sponsor here, sells kits of 2 3/4" heims + tube adapters + misalignment spacers for 55 bucks or so. Much easier than buying the 2 taps & finding 11/16" ID tubing. Standard 1.5" OD 1/4" wall tubing, weld the adapters in, bingo bango bomb proof steering.

 

[jmaxj]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned tube adapters. They are a little sleeve that fits inside the tube, welds to the end & the inside of the sleeve is threaded for heims or whatever.
Ruffstuff Specialities, a sponsor here, sells kits of 2 3/4" heims + tube adapters + misalignment spacers for 55 bucks or so. Much easier than buying the 2 taps & finding 11/16" ID tubing. Standard 1.5" OD 1/4" wall tubing, weld the adapters in, bingo bango bomb proof steering.

Not really bomb proof, I've seen many fail. And why buy taps take it to a shop and for 40 bucks they'll tap them

 

[MoparManiac]

Not really bomb proof, I've seen many fail. And why buy taps take it to a shop and for 40 bucks they'll tap them

Sure if you suck at welding.

 

[ktm racer 419]

Sure if you suck at welding.

SPOBI

I suck at welding and never had a weld fail. even on tube adapters



but if you suck more than I suck, then maybe you will have issues

 

[GrimmJeeper]

SPOBI

I suck at welding and never had a weld fail. even on tube adapters



but if you suck more than I suck, then maybe you will have issues

I'm in that category, I've warped a couple of bungs in my time :bawl: nothing like stitch welding, taking your time all day to weld the bungs in the end of your piece of tube letting it cool between welds, then trying to screw the heim in and screaming FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU at the top of your lungs. This is when it becomes handy to have a tap on hand that's the same thread as your bungs

 

[jmaxj]

Sure if you suck at welding.

Nope the welds never failed, the bungs split

 

[rweaver138]

I'm in that category, I've warped a couple of bungs in my time :bawl: nothing like stitch welding, taking your time all day to weld the bungs in the end of your piece of tube letting it cool between welds, then trying to screw the heim in and screaming FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU at the top of your lungs. This is when it becomes handy to have a tap on hand that's the same thread as your bungs

FFFUUUU BUNG!!!

 

[ktm racer 419]

on a serious note.

when i weld in tube inserts. i usually keep the tie rod end or heim in the joint when i weld it. i read somewhere that keeps the threads from distorting and it has been a habit of mine since.

also instead of just welding where they meet. i drill 2 or 4 holes in the tubing and plug weld them as well.

never had an issue.

 

[Darky]

Or just be a lame-o like me and buy someone else's hard work... Just takes a little longer to save the money.

 

[jeannies_driver]

Full Circle Performance. Aluminum tie rod made any way you want including stock set up. Most people I know using it have the Tera knuckle and use it for both tie rod and drag link cut and tapped to your spec, Jeep thread, chevy 1 ton or heims.

 

[sunburned]

on a serious note.

when i weld in tube inserts. i usually keep the tie rod end or heim in the joint when i weld it. i read somewhere that keeps the threads from distorting and it has been a habit of mine since.

also instead of just welding where they meet. i drill 2 or 4 holes in the tubing and plug weld them as well.

never had an issue.

This is what I've seen as well. Heims shouldn't be affected too much by the heat, so leave them in there and the bungs shouldn't warp (or very little).

 

[Loose_Nuts_Enterprises]

Put a coat of anti-seize on the threads before you weld, and let it cool completely before you remove the heim, or you may gall the threads when you try to take them out.

 

[Larrythedog]

Put a coat of anti-seize on the threads before you weld, and let it cool completely before you remove the heim, or you may gall the threads when you try to take them out.

X2....been there done that. :-(