clark

So i've been doing some research on heim joints and what not because i want to experiment with making some tie bars to connect the front lower control arms. I've seen some cheapo ones on ebay and i know GTSPEC makes a lower tie bar.

so here's what i'm looking at

Swaged Tubes on QA1 Precision Products, Inc.

and

AFCO 19516 - AFCO Swaged Steel Tubes - Overview - SummitRacing.com

i know we have alot of creative fabricators and i was also thinking of putting this in the fabrication thread, but i believe the question deserves it's own.

so i like the fact that the swage tube tapers at the end AND has a left hand AND right hand thread on each end. that way i can preload the tie bar very easily just by twisting it.

i'd basically get the swage tube, two rod ends (one left hand thread and one right hand thread), and MAYBE two jam nuts and then that would be it. right??

it seems relatively cheap to do this.

I discovered the swage tube because i was actually going to just pickup some tube and use these tube adapters that are chromoly and have threads.

Smooth Tube Adapters on QA1 Precision Products, Inc.

but it really seems the swaged tube is the better route because it's so easy.

i want some opinions on what you guys have done to fabricate some tie bars. i don't really want to hear the advantages and disadvantages of a tie bar, i want one, and that's the end.

i'm also thinking of doing something like this to make my own "nismo power brace". basically i'll make the tie bar, and then just weld some brackets onto my existion traction rod brackets and viola. yeah i know it's a much cheaper route to just weld in a tube, but i'm getting really into fabrication.

GSXRJJordan

Just responded via the Fab Thread ~ I'm with Jonnie Fraz on this one, chassis bracing should be fab'd to spec - there's no need for adjustment, and heims allow movement on all axis, so you're almost guaranteed some slop.

If you're making something that requires adjustment, heims are great, and I can hook you up on some that are cheaper than QA1 and much cheaper than Aurora.

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