The tapered section right next to the ball may be part of the joint
rather than an add on insert. We use that type for high articulation
joints in the off road race cars we build. Regular ball joint ends only
have flex of about 25 degrees or so, the longer center section is
relieved to allow 35 degrees plus. These are available, just harder to
find and more money.


Dean wrote:

> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

The tapered section right next to the ball may be part of the joint
rather than an add on insert. We use that type for high articulation
joints in the off road race cars we build. Regular ball joint ends only
have flex of about 25 degrees or so, the longer center section is
relieved to allow 35 degrees plus. These are available, just harder to
find and more money.


Dean wrote:

> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

Heim joints are notoriously lousy. Standard ball joints are tougher, but
they don't flex real well. RE's 'Heavy Duty' track bar has a much better
joint. That bar only costs a few bucks more than the RE heim joint bar,
though you do need a custom frame mount bracket.

This is your RE1600 track bar with the heim joint:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1600.jpg

Here's the RE1610 heavy duty bar and the required RE1611 bracket

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1610.jpg
http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1611.jpg

The 1610 has a greaseable, rebuildable 'Super-Flex' joint. The poly
races can be replaced for about ten bucks. The joint itself should last
forever:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE3792.jpg

I'd say order a new RE1610 & RE1611 and put your old RE1600 up on ebay.
As an added bonus, the RE1610 can adjust out a bit farther than the
RE1600 should you ever choose to lift higher.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Dean wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

Heim joints are notoriously lousy. Standard ball joints are tougher, but
they don't flex real well. RE's 'Heavy Duty' track bar has a much better
joint. That bar only costs a few bucks more than the RE heim joint bar,
though you do need a custom frame mount bracket.

This is your RE1600 track bar with the heim joint:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1600.jpg

Here's the RE1610 heavy duty bar and the required RE1611 bracket

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1610.jpg
http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1611.jpg

The 1610 has a greaseable, rebuildable 'Super-Flex' joint. The poly
races can be replaced for about ten bucks. The joint itself should last
forever:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE3792.jpg

I'd say order a new RE1610 & RE1611 and put your old RE1600 up on ebay.
As an added bonus, the RE1610 can adjust out a bit farther than the
RE1600 should you ever choose to lift higher.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Dean wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

Heim joints are notoriously lousy. Standard ball joints are tougher, but
they don't flex real well. RE's 'Heavy Duty' track bar has a much better
joint. That bar only costs a few bucks more than the RE heim joint bar,
though you do need a custom frame mount bracket.

This is your RE1600 track bar with the heim joint:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1600.jpg

Here's the RE1610 heavy duty bar and the required RE1611 bracket

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1610.jpg
http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE1611.jpg

The 1610 has a greaseable, rebuildable 'Super-Flex' joint. The poly
races can be replaced for about ten bucks. The joint itself should last
forever:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/RE3792.jpg

I'd say order a new RE1610 & RE1611 and put your old RE1600 up on ebay.
As an added bonus, the RE1610 can adjust out a bit farther than the
RE1600 should you ever choose to lift higher.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Dean wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

i used a teflon-lined alloy heim joint from www.mcmaster.com - cost about
$60, and requires no lubrication. it's been on for well over a year, and
not a peep from it.


"Dean" <no.email@papernapkin.net> wrote in message
news:0v71211tcgvl7spmk4fqdrf5vdo4jbpfvr@4ax.com...
> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs
to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search
reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about
these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is
worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

i used a teflon-lined alloy heim joint from www.mcmaster.com - cost about
$60, and requires no lubrication. it's been on for well over a year, and
not a peep from it.


"Dean" <no.email@papernapkin.net> wrote in message
news:0v71211tcgvl7spmk4fqdrf5vdo4jbpfvr@4ax.com...
> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs
to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search
reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about
these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is
worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/

 

i used a teflon-lined alloy heim joint from www.mcmaster.com - cost about
$60, and requires no lubrication. it's been on for well over a year, and
not a peep from it.


"Dean" <no.email@papernapkin.net> wrote in message
news:0v71211tcgvl7spmk4fqdrf5vdo4jbpfvr@4ax.com...
> Hey all,
>
> The heim joint on my Rubicon Express track bar is getting loose and needs
to be
> replaced. I'm pretty sure I can find one locally, but a quick web search
reveals
> many options. I like the look of these joints with greaseable ends:
>
> http://mdmetric.com/rodend/durbalcat2004.pdf
>
> Does anyone know if there is anything special about the joint? How about
these
> greaseable joints? Cost is not an issue because the labor, mine <g>, is
worth a
> whole lot more than a few bucks on a joint.
>
> tia
> Dean
> 98 TJ with 30K miles on a RE 4.5" lift.
> http://home.comcast.net/~1redcreek/