Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab

garydee · 01-12-2010, 08:03 AM

Question for you fabricators – I am going to fab a 3-link front suspension for my "Crushman" project (replacing a botched CC frontend that was in there when I bought it).

I’m going to follow along the lines of the attached picture except with a regular EZ-Go axle. My question; what size tubing and corresponding rod ends would you suggest? Another words, tube size and thickness; Thread Bung size that will fit into that tube; suggested rod end size.

Your suggestions are appreciated!

scottyb · 01-12-2010, 08:12 AM

You are going to need some pretty NICE coil-over-shocks to carry the weight and provide the ride.

craig tn · 01-12-2010, 09:55 AM

http://qscomponents.com/

I bought rod ends from this company. They have static load rating of the ends. Maybe this will help.

WickedCarts · 01-12-2010, 10:52 AM

i would use 1 1/4 120 wall with 1/2 rod ends... post some pics thats going to be a fun project

kellys~hotrods · 01-12-2010, 04:55 PM

I know that the person that built what will soon be cut away from my cart used inferior tubing and welds. Do your homework and build it safe! What WickedCarts suggested seems like a good plan. When searching for tubing, I would look for DOM tubing. If the tubing is seam welded, the thickness may vary and this could cause weak points in the link. DOM tubing is constant thickness throughout so the potential for weak points is eliminated.

garydee · 01-13-2010, 06:51 AM

I agree that anything used for suspension would need to be DOM. The 1.25/.120 looks about right to me. Thanks for that webs site criag, good stuff in there.

Got a used axle on the way. Next is the rims and tires so I can set the ride height and get the materials ordered.

Gummi Bear · 01-16-2010, 02:35 PM

There are definite quality benchmarks when it comes to spherical rod ends.

I tend buy SK and Aurora rod ends for my rockcrawler and hot rod projects.

http://polyperformance.com/

http://pscmotorsports.com/

http://rodendsupply.com/

http://www.smileysracing.com/

As for keeping your front end...

If you're wanting to keep the rack & pinion setup in the 3rd picture, it needs to be stationary. Putting one on a live axle just doesn't work, it needs to be rigid. An A-Arm setup would prove better in this instance.

If you're realy enamoured with the idea of a straight axle, then you need to cook up a pitman type of setup, and make sure that your draglink piece has enough misalignment to not bind when the axle is articulating.

garydee · 01-20-2010, 07:26 AM

Thanks for the info and links. The rack/pinon - steering set-up is an issue I'm contemplating now.

I agree that a A-arm system would be the best, but this is a budget build. I don't have the equipment to properly fabricate (bend tube) or a large enough budget to purchase an aftermarket suspension (though I wish I could).

My goal is a simple working system to replace the botched-up setup that's in there now, add just a little lift and have clearance for 26x11x12's.

I'm still open for ideas though! Chow - GaryDee

Gummi Bear · 01-20-2010, 08:20 AM

How about rather than try to re-invent the wheel, and still keep your budget in mind, find a front end that someone has scrapped out of their late model cart for you to adapt into yours. It'll still be a bit of fab work on your part, but it could be the foundation for a front end that can more easily be modified when your budget does allow for it.

You'll get more accurate steering out of a rack and pinion than you will with a funny angled pitman, as long as it's functioning properly, I'd just give it a good cleaning and lube, and put it right back into comission.

I did some checking around for a small steering box, but nothing was small enough, that's still worth a darn, besides there's no proper frame rail to mount it on.

kellys~hotrods · 01-20-2010, 10:11 AM

I am working out a rack and pinion set up now, looking at center load racks for sand rails. Empi makes a wide variety of steering racks that are available from online vendors. FYI, I have a 8.5 in. slim billet rack here and it won't work for me. There is not enough travel on the rack from lock to lock.

01-12-2010, 08:12 AM	#2
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,418	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab You are going to need some pretty NICE coil-over-shocks to carry the weight and provide the ride.

01-12-2010, 09:55 AM	#3
craig tn Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Covington, TN Posts: 1,942	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab http://qscomponents.com/ I bought rod ends from this company. They have static load rating of the ends. Maybe this will help.

01-12-2010, 10:52 AM	#4
WickedCarts NOT a Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So CAL Posts: 2,147	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab i would use 1 1/4 120 wall with 1/2 rod ends... post some pics thats going to be a fun project

01-12-2010, 04:55 PM	#5
kellys~hotrods Gone to refill cooler... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 1,445	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab I know that the person that built what will soon be cut away from my cart used inferior tubing and welds. Do your homework and build it safe! What WickedCarts suggested seems like a good plan. When searching for tubing, I would look for DOM tubing. If the tubing is seam welded, the thickness may vary and this could cause weak points in the link. DOM tubing is constant thickness throughout so the potential for weak points is eliminated.

01-13-2010, 06:51 AM	#6
garydee Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 133	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab I agree that anything used for suspension would need to be DOM. The 1.25/.120 looks about right to me. Thanks for that webs site criag, good stuff in there. Got a used axle on the way. Next is the rims and tires so I can set the ride height and get the materials ordered.
garydee Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 133

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01-16-2010, 02:35 PM	#7
Gummi Bear Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 37	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab There are definite quality benchmarks when it comes to spherical rod ends. I tend buy SK and Aurora rod ends for my rockcrawler and hot rod projects. http://polyperformance.com/ http://pscmotorsports.com/ http://rodendsupply.com/ http://www.smileysracing.com/ As for keeping your front end... If you're wanting to keep the rack & pinion setup in the 3rd picture, it needs to be stationary. Putting one on a live axle just doesn't work, it needs to be rigid. An A-Arm setup would prove better in this instance. If you're realy enamoured with the idea of a straight axle, then you need to cook up a pitman type of setup, and make sure that your draglink piece has enough misalignment to not bind when the axle is articulating.

01-20-2010, 07:26 AM	#8
garydee Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 133	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab Thanks for the info and links. The rack/pinon - steering set-up is an issue I'm contemplating now. I agree that a A-arm system would be the best, but this is a budget build. I don't have the equipment to properly fabricate (bend tube) or a large enough budget to purchase an aftermarket suspension (though I wish I could). My goal is a simple working system to replace the botched-up setup that's in there now, add just a little lift and have clearance for 26x11x12's. I'm still open for ideas though! Chow - GaryDee
garydee Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 133

01-20-2010, 08:20 AM	#9
Gummi Bear Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 37	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab How about rather than try to re-invent the wheel, and still keep your budget in mind, find a front end that someone has scrapped out of their late model cart for you to adapt into yours. It'll still be a bit of fab work on your part, but it could be the foundation for a front end that can more easily be modified when your budget does allow for it. You'll get more accurate steering out of a rack and pinion than you will with a funny angled pitman, as long as it's functioning properly, I'd just give it a good cleaning and lube, and put it right back into comission. I did some checking around for a small steering box, but nothing was small enough, that's still worth a darn, besides there's no proper frame rail to mount it on.

01-20-2010, 10:11 AM	#10
kellys~hotrods Gone to refill cooler... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 1,445	Re: Tube / Rod End Question - for 3-link front fab I am working out a rack and pinion set up now, looking at center load racks for sand rails. Empi makes a wide variety of steering racks that are available from online vendors. FYI, I have a 8.5 in. slim billet rack here and it won't work for me. There is not enough travel on the rack from lock to lock.

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