Where to go for unusual rod end sizes?

[alangbaker]

In specific, my steering arms use a 1/4" bore, 3/8" shank rod end at the steering rack end.

Anyone know where to ask for such?

[DanW]

Alan,

Averill and Pegasus carry oversize shank rod ends, but double check dimensions. Usually a 3/8x24 shank will have a 5/16 bore.

Another alternative would be to press a bushing into the bore to size it to what you need.

Good luck.

[alangbaker]

Alan,

Averill and Pegasus carry oversize shank rod ends, but double check dimensions. Usually a 3/8x24 shank will have a 5/16 bore.

Believe me: I've checked. In fact, I just checked again. It's a 1/4" bore with a 3/8" shank

Another alternative would be to press a bushing into the bore to size it to what you need.

But I can't press a bushing into a bore to make it larger in diameter, Dan. I wish I could.

Good luck.

Thanks, but I think I now know what I've got and what I need.

A closer look shows that the ball has been ground/file/machined on both mounting faces. I just check the Aurora Bearing website, and what I've got is an HXAM-4 (or equivalent); a high misalignment rod end that's been modified to reduce the ball width from 0.593" to 7/16". Everything else matches up: head thickness, overall length, etc.

Mystery solved!

[David Ferguson]

Believe me: I've checked. In fact, I just checked again. It's a 1/4" bore with a 3/8" shank



But I can't press a bushing into a bore to make it larger in diameter, Dan. I wish I could.

Very strange, in my reality, a 1/4" bore is smaller than a 5/16" bore. This is pretty standard in our race cars.

[alangbaker]

Very strange, in my reality, a 1/4" bore is smaller than a 5/16" bore. This is pretty standard in our race cars.

A 1/4" bore is smaller than a 5/16" bore, David.

I've got a rod-end with a 1/4" bore held in a clevis with 1/4" holes by a 1/4" bolt. How is pressing a sleeve going to help?

[DaveW]

A 1/4" bore is smaller than a 5/16" bore, David.

I've got a rod-end with a 1/4" bore held in a clevis with 1/4" holes by a 1/4" bolt. How is pressing a sleeve going to help?

By allowing you to use a much more standard 3/8 shank x 5/16 bore rod end with a 5/16 -> 1/4 reducing sleeve (as long as the 5/16 ball is not too wide).

[alangbaker]

By allowing you to use a much more standard 3/8 shank x 5/16 bore rod end with a 5/16 -> 1/4 reducing sleeve (as long as the 5/16 ball is not too wide).

That's a possibility I'd missed

Duh.

[john f]

Can't see the forest through the trees. Happens to us all sometimes.