26-02-2018, 09:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 26-02-2018, 10:08 PM by Stuart Giles.)
Hi Dennis,
The rod ends I'm using on my car are this type and size.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-8-x-3-8-UNF-...25bfb6b579
As you can see the static load capacity of these particular joints is very high. Obviously, when you're driving the car, the joints will see dynamic or shock loads, not static, which means the capacity is much lower -the rule of thumb I have been given is shock load capacity is about 1/3 of the static load.
The joints with integral grease nipples tend to have metal liners as well metal balls, they usually have a relatively low load capacity and suffer quite high wear even when regularly greased. I don't use the boots on mine as they do trap any water or dirt that does get in. Giving the joints a wipe over every now and then as Cardiffrob suggests is all the joints should need.
BTW, if any of the stuff I said about loadings is making you nervous about using 3/8 x 3/8 rod ends on your A7. here's a picture of my "other" special. Most of the joints on this are the same size and specification as the ones in the weblink. You might appreciate that the cornering forces generated are rather higher with a car running slicks that are 10 and 15" wide
.
![[Image: 40504184241_c441a7b0f2_k.jpg]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4659/40504184241_c441a7b0f2_k.jpg)
The rod ends I'm using on my car are this type and size.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-8-x-3-8-UNF-...25bfb6b579
As you can see the static load capacity of these particular joints is very high. Obviously, when you're driving the car, the joints will see dynamic or shock loads, not static, which means the capacity is much lower -the rule of thumb I have been given is shock load capacity is about 1/3 of the static load.
The joints with integral grease nipples tend to have metal liners as well metal balls, they usually have a relatively low load capacity and suffer quite high wear even when regularly greased. I don't use the boots on mine as they do trap any water or dirt that does get in. Giving the joints a wipe over every now and then as Cardiffrob suggests is all the joints should need.
BTW, if any of the stuff I said about loadings is making you nervous about using 3/8 x 3/8 rod ends on your A7. here's a picture of my "other" special. Most of the joints on this are the same size and specification as the ones in the weblink. You might appreciate that the cornering forces generated are rather higher with a car running slicks that are 10 and 15" wide
.