Building new drag link (w/heims??)

[pismorat]

I have hydro assist steering on my D60 and the stock drag link has taken a beating. The TRE's are shot and the rod it self is plain beat. I plan to build one out of 1.25" tube (.125" wall) with tube adapters and heim joints. The question is what to do with my knuckles. Is it possible to drill them out to a straight 3/4" hole...while they're still on the truck? I've seen these tie rod bolt adapters, but I wonder about their strength on the front of a fullsize with hydro assist that runs into boulders and such.

 

[Bent77]

I ran the same set of 3/4" x 3/4 heims on my k5 for 13 years, no issues. Kept them clean, sprayed them with WD40 a lot, and clubbed the crap out of the K5.

I built it that way from the go, and drilled them on the Bridgeport. But i see no reason you can't drill them on the truck. I also drilled the Pittman arm for the heim. If not, have a drill press?

 

[pismorat]

I have a drill press, but would prefer not to take the knuckles off the axle since there's only a few hundred (offroad) miles on them since I built the axle. I have TRE's on my crossover tube, but they're brand new and holding up OK. I just want to build a new drag link and use heims to be done with it. If the crossover TRE's ever go out, I'll drill them straight too and replace with heims.

 

[Bent77]

Not sure how the heim joints you are looking at are shaped. I machined a cone washer for both under and over the joint so the body would have its full range of movement without hitting the bolt head or the arm

 

[pismorat]

I don't have them yet, but I might use spacers or washers. There shouldn't be much movement between the two knuckles though since they will be fixed together. It's not like its the crossover tube that sees steering and suspension flex.

 

[natemc]

With the stock drag link and 4" lift you'll probably want high angle cone spacers for the heims. Heim joints will hold up great. The problem will be that you'll find the next weak link in your steering.