Heim Joint

[ThreeWheels]

Does anyone have an idea as to why something as important as the heim joint is made out of plastic instead of some metal ?

 

[stillriding]

Does anyone have an idea as to why something as important as the heim joint is made out of plastic instead of some metal ?

$$$$$

 

[NancysToy]

Exactly what component are you talking about? True Heim joints (spherical ball joints) are not plastic. They are precision made metal components, just like ball joints or tie-rod ends.

 

[flybuddy]

Think he's talking about what's at the end of the swaybar.

 

[Chupaca]

Let's see..!!

Have to agree with $$$$ and add stress. If the load is minimal and its cheaper in high impact plastic they will go there...imho :thumbup:

 

[ThreeWheels]

Have to agree with $$$$ and add stress. If the load is minimal and its cheaper in high impact plastic they will go there...imho :thumbup:

I would agree, but I just can't see the load being minimal.
And the RonBar will only increase the load because it transmits more torque.
Of course I don't have numbers. And I recall only seeing one post about a failure of the plastic.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?48595-Broken-Heim-joint&highlight=broken+joint
Still, I imagine it would be more reliable in metal.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

 

[NancysToy]

If it greatly concerns you, you could get some rod ends (Heim joints), some weld-in threaded bar ends (nipples), some thin lock nuts, and some steel tubing and build your own links. I don't think it is necessary, but it is certainly able to be done if the length of the links is enough to allow both rod ends to be inserted.

 

[Tx web rider]

broken heim joint

found my Right side also broken a few weeks back

 

[BajaRon]

I think the main reason BRP uses these composite Heim links is that they are cost effective and they work. There is no doubt that my custom sway bars add stress to them.

There have been very few failures (none that I know of with my sway bars installed). At least some of these failures have been caused by impact with foreign objects or other hard parts, not sway bar stress.

I have looked into making an all steel link for the Spyder. But with the extremely small failure rate so far, I'm not sure there would be enough market to support the product.

 

[YIRYDE]

I have looked into making an all steel link for the Spyder. But with the extremely small failure rate so far, I'm not sure there would be enough market to support the product.

Ron

I think if you make them and sell them, we would buy them.

 

[Jeriatric]

opcorn:

 

[ThreeWheels]

I think the main reason BRP uses these composite Heim links is that they are cost effective and they work. There is no doubt that my custom sway bars add stress to them.

There have been very few failures (none that I know of with my sway bars installed). At least some of these failures have been caused by impact with foreign objects or other hard parts, not sway bar stress.

I have looked into making an all steel link for the Spyder. But with the extremely small failure rate so far, I'm not sure there would be enough market to support the product.

Sounds reasonable. Nevertheless, I think I'll keep the preload on my shocks set at 5. I haven't been unhappy with the harshness of the ride and the preload will help keep some of the stress off the plastic pieces.
Still, should you offer an upgrade to go along with your fabulous excellent marvelous incredible sway bar (if I wasn't clear, I LIKE the new sway bar), I would certainly consider it.

I wonder what the 2013 links look like. Or is the whole front end completely different ?

 

[ulflyer]

Recently I had Ron's sway bar installed at my dealer and the mechanic that always does my work commented that some of those joints have been found to be cracked but mine were fine. At the time, I hadn't read about this so I didn't ask any questions, but the fact that he knew about it suggests there have perhaps been more than we've heard about. Next time I go to the shop I'll ask him for more details.

 

[Bob Denman]

Think of it as a nine or ten-dollar shear pin... :thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

Think of it as a nine or ten-dollar shear pin... :thumbup:

Good point!

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: I got one?? :shocked: :yes:hyea: :roflblack:

 

[SpydermanCT]

I was concerned about the Heim Joints also after reading about a few failures and just bit the bullet and ordered 2 costing $28. I thought it would be worth it, if just for piece of mind, when I was installing Ron's sway bar.

 

[Frank G]

Think of it as a nine or ten-dollar shear pin... :thumbup:

If one was to fail in a tight turn one might not be able to recover!:yikes: I would purchase stronger ones in a heart beat. Yes I have a BajaRon sway bar. At this point I will replace the Heim Links when we do the annual detailed inspection, and consider them disposable components.:spyder:

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: They're cheap enough to keep spares around and consider them as a disposable wear item. I wouldn't try to strengthen them; let them be the cheap part to fail. It might just save the life of an expensive part that's downstream. :shocked:

 

[Sarge707]

I don,t think there is a Drastic need to Upgrade BRP,s Helm Joints??? They are undoubtably a VERY Durable Plastic type Compound that is Specifically engineered to work in this situation? There is No Need to Re-Invent the Wheel? IMHO!nojoke