Ebay heim joint fix questions

superduty4x4 · Oct 15, 2012

I had my truck apart rebuilding the steering column (word to the wise... just buy a column from the wrecking yard) and decided to tackle this job as well since I have had some problems shifting for a while now, mostly while trying to grab reverse.
Long story short now I can't drive my truck because the clutch is not fully disengaging. The seller of the heim joint was no help at all, so I'm up to devising my own solution to the problem and I have a couple ideas...

Option A- pry the swing arm off the end of the clutch pedal shaft again and shift it 1-2 teeth to see if I can get enough throw to disengage the clutch

Option B (preferred) buy a threaded heim joint from McMaster-Carr, run a die on the master cylinder shaft and have an infinitely adjustable clutch setup that should solve my problem. The heim joint from McMaster Carr is only $4... I'm going to try and get the Ebay seller to let me return the one I bought.

Does anyone have other suggestions or see any flaws in my plan?

kramarj · Oct 15, 2012

What was wrong with the ebay heim joint? I did it in my old gasser and worked great, the stupid plastic bushing went out almost immediately after I put a new one in.

superduty4x4 · Oct 16, 2012

kramarj said:
What was wrong with the ebay heim joint? I did it in my old gasser and worked great, the stupid plastic bushing went out almost immediately after I put a new one in.

Nothing, except that with the heim joint the master cylinder push rod is now too short to fully disengage the clutch. So I can't start, nor drive my truck... and I feel stupid for not doing my research first and paying $40 for a $4 part.

Dieselfever · Oct 16, 2012

The adjustable rod would be ideal. Did you also replace the clutch pedal shaft bushings when you did the heim joint, usually they are worn out too.

superduty4x4 · Oct 16, 2012

Dieselfever said:
The adjustable rod would be ideal. Did you also replace the clutch pedal shaft bushings when you did the heim joint, usually they are worn out too.

I did not... everything felt pretty tight.

superduty4x4 · Oct 17, 2012

She's back up and running... I had to reposition the swing arm on the end of the clutch pedal shaft and trim a bit more off the master cylinder push rod to get everything to line up and work like it should.

kramarj · Oct 18, 2012

superduty4x4 said:
She's back up and running... I had to reposition the swing arm on the end of the clutch pedal shaft and trim a bit more off the master cylinder push rod to get everything to line up and work like it should.

I completely forgot about that, I had to reposition it on mine too.

Dieselfever · Oct 20, 2012

I make sure to mark them when I take them apart

glovemeister · Oct 22, 2012

What are the part numbers from Mcmaster carr? Just a standard 3/8 helm joint right?

superduty4x4 · Oct 22, 2012

Dieselfever said:
I make sure to mark them when I take them apart

The problem was with the swing arm in the original position, the master cylinder shaft was too short for the heim joint to connect. With the arm shifted one tooth forward, the master cylinder shaft was too long.

glovemeister said:
What are the part numbers from Mcmaster carr? Just a standard 3/8 helm joint right?

I have no idea, just go to the web site and search for heim joint. If you look at the ebay jobby, it looks like all they did was drill the threads out of a 3/8" heim joint and then install the set screw.

Dieselfever · Oct 24, 2012

superduty4x4 said:
I have no idea, just go to the web site and search for heim joint. If you look at the ebay jobby, it looks like all they did was drill the threads out of a 3/8" heim joint and then install the set screw.

That is what I do, I get this one: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-msf6