horizenjob wrote:
There are specs for these things even if Midwest control isn't giving them. Rod ends is a pretty big subject.
Kinetic's are import, imported by the aptly named Rod End Supply in Olathe, KS, and I didn't have any trouble getting the specs. Here's a link to our rod end page, with pics and radial loads:
http://www.kineticvehicles.com/rodends.htmlI'm pretty open about my sources, and in many cases (such as this one) Kinetic just serves as a bulk purchasing and info/testing center (a la
The Dallas Buyers Club except I'm a nicer guy). I have another business that buys lots of rod ends so we can pass the savings on to you, blah blah blah and thus endeth the advert, and here beginneth the info.
--I have over a hundred thousand miles on my Locost. It rides on 1/2" RES mid-range LX series, (to quote my own page) "A self-lubricating, self sealing NylaFiber* race, and C1045 mild steel body for 6,660 pounds ultimate static radial load, which should be sufficient unless you hit a fire hydrant at speed." I haven't seen any play in them yet. Mind you, I'm not a hard charger, and Locost control arm end loads may not be as high as at-the-spindle loads on a Midlana, but the wear resistance of the RES LX tie rods suits me fine, despite their asian heritage. Kinetic sells them for $10 and $8.65 in lots of 16.
--RES (and Kinetic) also has cheapass two piece rod ends for $3.50, and in my opinion they are suitable for test fixtures and Grassroots Motorsports $2015 Challenge cars, but that's it. See the page I linked for more info, but it seems to me that it's more of a quality vs cost issue than a continent of origin issue.
--At the other end of the RES scale is the X series, which are $4 more expensive than the LX, and are (here I go quoting myself again) "Exactly like the LX except with a heat treated 4130 chromoly steel body, good for16,238 pounds ultimate static radial load, which means if you hit a fire hydrant, you still won’t be driving home, but your rod ends should be in pretty good shape after they’ve been extracted from the wreckage."
So in summary, rod ends come in different qualities for different prices, from a variety of sources.