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Dimension on rod ends?
Protrim - 26/11/06 at 06:39 PM

I will use rod ends (aka uniballs) on my Locost in stead of bushes. What dimension of uniballs are recommended on the four link when the car will be approx 550kg?

Stu16v - 26/11/06 at 06:59 PM

The dimensions go hand in hand with quality, which in turn, will cost more....

Protrim - 26/11/06 at 07:13 PM

What do you mean? I don't want ot use M16 if it is enough with M12 for example. Bigger also cost more, but I will probably buy from Aurora which again is equal to quality.

t.j. - 26/11/06 at 08:09 PM

I use for a 3 point linking 1 M16 and 2 M12.

Could be lighter but don't want to lose a wheel while driving

JB - 26/11/06 at 08:19 PM

1/2" x 1/2" is a popular size for an axle 4 link but on a 550kg car you could go as small as 1/4" if you had high quality and you lifed them.

3/8" bore with 7/16" UNF would be a sensible size to use. Get ones with a reinforced PTFE liner, make sure the mounts are double shear, the rod ends only loaded in tension and compression and you use NAS bolts.

Otherwise play it safe and use 7/16" x 1/2" UNF.

John

Protrim - 26/11/06 at 08:44 PM

quote:
1/2" x 1/2" is a popular size for an axle 4 link but on a 550kg car you could go as small as 1/4" if you had high quality and you lifed them.
It is not matter of many kilograms here so I guess it would be safe to go for 1/2" or 7/16" as you say.

quote:
Get ones with a reinforced PTFE liner
What is the PTFE liner? I see it in the Aurora catalog but don't know what it is.

quote:
make sure the mounts are double shear, the rod ends only loaded in tension and compression and you use NAS bolts.
What do you mean with double shear and what is NAS bolts? You mean that I must make the four link so that the rod ends does not get any load sidewise?

Peteff - 26/11/06 at 11:58 PM

Five links, you have the one on the panhard rod which takes the sideways loading off of the others. Double shear is bolted through a bracket either side | | and NAS are aerospace spec bolts. PTFE is bearing material which surrounds the spherical joint not necessarily better in everyone's opinion as it does compress in tension and compression.

kb58 - 27/11/06 at 12:38 AM

PTFE is commonly known as Teflon.

About the bearing sizes, even tiny ones will handle the load, but won't last. The big ones buy you long life and a warm fuzzy feeling they'll never break.