Heim Joints

Yep, I use 3/4"x3/4" joints and was able to pickup grade 8 bolts, nuts and washers from Northern..but I'm sure any fastener shop would have what you need. I know what you mean about being paranoid. I have a very graphic sense of paranoia. I don't just "picture" something in my mind, I play it out in full panorama color video... especially stuff like steering part failures and vehicle rollovers.. etc.

 

the welder i am going to use turns out to be certified for welding reactors on nuke subs for usn. he suggested that instead of using a # 8 bolt in the knuckle i use a #5 instead. he says when the 8 goes it snaps, when the 5 goes it'll bend instead and first and you feel it first or see it when you inspect it.

interesting perspective.

 

are you refering to bolt grades? never seen bolts by the number, just drill bits. :?

 

Grade 8 bolts are stronger than grade 5 bolts in both shear and tension. They'll also bend before they break (depending on the situation). Put a 3/8" grade 8 in a vise and leave a few inches sticking up. Bend it with vise grips or a hammer. Also, most bolts fail from not being tightened enough. When I was building my CJ5 I picked up a few books on fasteners (my wife thought I had gone nuts reading an entire book on bolts). For me... anything that my life depends on will be at least grade 8.

 

yep i meant grade 8. i was just lazy typing.

thanks besrk. valuable info to know! hmmm gone nuts reading a book on bolts.... there's a bad pun there somewhere, i can feel it.

 

If you want some reading about that BS of using Grade 5 because they bend before they break, read this:

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/fasteners/index.asp

 

oj, just finished the tech report on rockcrawlers you linked. that's a great article. thanks. i even understood it. thus in ref to my comment above 8 v 5.... never mind.

 

Highly unlikely you'll ever break either one anyway

 

might though.