what happens when you use 3/4" heim joints on a set of ladder bars

BOSS450 · May 22, 2012

Lasted 3 days

faster6.0 · May 22, 2012

wow. carnage

Betarocker · May 22, 2012

It has happened to me. What design bars do you have?

Dzchey21 · May 22, 2012

What was that on and how were they built?

BOSS450 · May 23, 2012

Ill post a picture of just the bars in a second. but the snapped bc of how i have my ladder bars built. Here's a pic of the bars on the truck

second pic is of the bars before i plated it

MINK · May 23, 2012

Did you preload the bars or what? That shouldnt of happened although those arnt the best option for joints.

BOSS450 · May 23, 2012

Here's a pic of the angle the top heim joint on the rear was at. the two that broke were screwed directly in to the bottom bar. the broke upwards. The top heim is angled that way so that the bars would miss the front of the springs.

MINK · May 23, 2012

Poor bar design is your issue. Sounds like you already know that though.

BOSS450 · May 23, 2012

Yupp. but it will work

Snake · May 23, 2012

Until they break

4duggan · May 23, 2012

I am no engineer but I dont see how those cant break. Mine were bought so my hats off to you for the build.

Subscribed.To see what the geometry and math wiz's have to offer.

907DAVE · May 23, 2012

Why was the heim at the rear, shouldn't that be fixed to the axle?

Dzchey21 · May 23, 2012

Where is your shackle? You need to fix that. Otherwise a spring bolt might be the next to break

BOSS450 · May 23, 2012

You talking about on the front to give as the axle moves up and Down? bc there is one there. but I've already cycled the rear axle up and down and it stayed still. the shackle did not move at all. just rotated on top joint. ill post more pictures in a few

BOSS450 · May 23, 2012

Dzchey21 · May 23, 2012

How does the other end at the axle mount

Betarocker · May 23, 2012

I'll throw this out there. You have subjected the heim joint to shear and rotational forces along with the compression and elongation forces. The design of the ladder bars (not just yours) subjects the axle ends to forces many times greater than at the frame connection. The shackle only assists with allowing the suspension to travel in the path associated with leaf springs, it does not ease any forces of controlling the rotation of the axle.

WoodBoy · May 28, 2012

:whs: I would design a shackle coming straight down towards the ground off the axle a couple inches in order to give the bar leverage and keep the forces traveling up and down the bar rather than rotational forces on the ends. OR you can take your bars and put the attachment points further around the axle where they attach on the top and bottom of the axle. I think you have them attaching tooo far towards the front of the axle