strut rods

Jack,

I'm using rods very similar to those, from Van Steel. They're great. Much easier to align the rear, less flex (poly bushings) better geometry in my case and they look cool too! Because I made some changes to my rear suspension, the rods are now parallel to the shafts improving the handling of the car.

Some guys have had issues with the adjustment nuts working loose. What I found was that if you really crank down on the bushing bolts, the struts have a tendency to want to twist just a bit when they move up and down with the suspension. This little bit of twist will loosen the nuts no matter how tight you crank them. The answer is to tighten the bushing bolts just firm enough to clamp the strut into position, but the rod should still be able to move up and down. Some guys replace the bushing ends with heim ends to correct this, and others have used loctite as fixes.
 
They been on my car for some 16 years now....

but you have to watch that those nutz stay tight on the ends, as the urethane tends to loosen them in the flex/twist motion of the t-arm swinging....

I had to replace my bushings some ~5 years ago, and used the smaller size early vette urethane bushings, with some more urethane plastic wrapped around to increase the diameter to the later size....that has enabled a tad more flex in the system, and last I looked they were still riding concentric....

I dunno if rubber bushings would fit the VBP struts or not....
 
I really don't care for those heim joints in such a filthy environment for a street driven car....race cars, I suppose ok....

:clobbered:
 
Have had the Rod End Strut Rods in my 70 for almost 25 years, the only issue is that they help transmit drive train noise into the car, due to replace 1 rod end this winter as it is showing a bit of slack, the noise is not much of a price to pay for the increase in rear control. Van Steele's "Smart Strut" is a good addition as well, your car will really improve with this.
 
mrvette said:
I really don't care for those heim joints in such a filthy environment for a street driven car....race cars, I suppose ok....

:clobbered:
Click to expand...

Well I guess Pittsburgh gets pretty filthy in the summer. LOL (the smokey city) I do think you point is valid.
 
Last edited:
I use them too. Only problem I've noticed is the jam nut comes loose fairly regularly. Not a big deal, just check them once or twice a year.
 
clutchdust said:
I use them too. Only problem I've noticed is the jam nut comes loose fairly regularly. Not a big deal, just check them once or twice a year.
Click to expand...

This only happens if you use the polyurethane bushings. There is a twisting movement when the t arm moves and the poly just binds vs a rod end or the original rubber which allows this movement.
 
Carb Doc said:
Have had the Rod End Strut Rods in my 70 for almost 25 years, the only issue is that they help transmit drive train noise into the car, due to replace 1 rod end this winter as it is showing a bit of slack, the noise is not much of a price to pay for the increase in rear control. Van Steele's "Smart Strut" is a good addition as well, your car will really improve with this.
Click to expand...

25 years, but roughly how many miles are you talking they have lasted?
 
These are strut rods I pieced together using 5/8ths HD heim ends on a 13 inch tube. They have been on the car around five years and the cinch nuts have never come loose and there are no dust covers on the ends. When I am working back there I will occasionally wipe a bit of anti-seize on the ends and that is it. The total cost to buy the parts, including spacers, was less than half the cost of aftermarket pieces. The car was drag raced with drag radial tires and never a problem with the strut rods. Build with confidence!
79UndersideRestoration078.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Just installed the Heim-joint rods from VBandP. Love them. Rear feels nice and stable and there is no noise or vibration. I don't like the idea of poly bushings on the strut rods due to the twisting during suspension travel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top