Rod ends misalignment

[Infinity]

Can we use studs/ shanks( M10) press-fitted into the bore of the M10 rod end to increase misalignment angle instead of using a spacer or washer or a misalignment washers/spacers? Is there any other alternative to increase the misalignment?

[Infinity]

Can we use studs/ shanks( M10) press-fitted into the bore of the M10 rod end to increase misalignment angle instead of using a spacer or washer or a misalignment washers/spacers? Is there any other alternative to increase the misalignment?

[Brian Evans]

Sure you can. Is it a good idea? Probably not but it depends on your design. It's probably better to not use rod end joints in situations that exceed their misalignment, or to design a solution that eliminates the use of a rod end for your application.

[drivetrainUW-Platt]

there is such a thing as a high misalignment style rod end... anything more than that and you will probably have to angle your mounts so that at static height there is less angle in the rod ends.

[Infinity]

I know about the high misalignment style rod end but we dont have time to place an order and wait for its delivery. What we now intend to do is use the conventional rod ends. So what is the maximum misalignment in the rod ends. I calculated for 1" wheel travel and got it to be around 7 degree but calculations can be misleading sometimes( since we hve no prior exposure to such condition).

[Infinity]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Brian Evans:
Sure you can. Is it a good idea? Probably not but it depends on your design. It's probably better to not use rod end joints in situations that exceed their misalignment, or to design a solution that eliminates the use of a rod end for your application. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Can u please justify your reply? anways rod ends wont get used more than its limit but installing this way will ensure it goes to its maximum which may not be in case of the washers or spacers as it may interfere t smaller swivel angle with them.

[Brian Evans]

I would justify the reply thusly...

If you install the bearing in an application where loads will be applied beyond the design angularity, you can't rely on the manufacturers strength ratings.

If you install the center rod using a press fit, you may distort the ball such that its design fit within its race no longer applies.

If you install the center rod using a press fit, you need to calculate the strength of the ball to determine if the press fit will support your design loads.

If you install the center rod using a press fit, you have no positive locating device retaining the bearing on the rod.

None of these things are inherantly a bad thing, but the fact remains that you are using a stock item in an application it wasn't designed to be used in. You have to account for that in your design.

It sounds like you are thinking of this rod end as a ball joint on an upright. The rated angularity of a rod end is usually between two planes with no spacers. There are two types of spacers that will increase the angularity - simple tapered washer, and a special sleeve device that is inserted into the bore of the ball (reducing the bore size somewhat) and having an undercut on it's OD to increase the angularity to about the same degree as pressing in a rod. The Chassis Shop has them, they call them High Misalignment Bushings. Way better solution than relying on a press fit.

Brian

[Infinity]

Ok Brian, Thanks for the explanation.

[BajaBeau]

The best and strongest way to provide additional misalignment to a rod end or heim joint is to use a high misalignment spacer. Check out www.mlmotorsports.biz (http://www.mlmotorsports.biz). They have a good selection of them with alot of technical info.