Changed the heim joints in the L&W radius rods, again

[PhilCod]

Going into fall I do a lot of maintenance for our trips to WV/KY/TN. Greasing the wheel bearings, Changed the front and rear diff fluid, now that I'm at 1,800 miles. I looked over the L&W arms and they were all pretty loose. So I called L&W and ordered another bag of heim joints. $50 delivered so not too bad. But it seems like they only last about 400-500 miles. I even asked the gal at L&W if they had a heavier duty heim joint and she said no, these are the ones we use in all our units. I emailed SuperATV to inquire if their warranty covered the heim joints. It didn't, but I can't blame them. Not sure what to do going forward. I guess I'll just change the heim joints twice a year. I do grease them up considerably with Bel-ray waterproof grease. I also add grease if I see them needing it. Maybe I'm just too hard on them. I'm a young guy, only 53, so my riding style must be too difficult for these. Yea, I'm being a comic, but I am certainly frustrated.

 

[HondaTech]

Get RaceCo arms, haven't replaced a heim yet on our racecar. L&W uses junk heims ike almost everyone else.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

Get RaceCo arms, haven't replaced a heim yet on our racecar. L&W uses junk heims ike almost everyone else.

This. The heims L&W and most other companies use on their arms are to small for what we do with our Talons.

I have to replace all 4 tie rod heims on my racecar every 2 races. I'm using high quality FK JMX series heims and still kill them in short order.

 

[CID]

Sorry to hear this, Phil, since I'm also running the rear L&W radius rods. Thanks for the heads up. @Lil_Steve has them also.

 

[PaulF]

Going into fall I do a lot of maintenance for our trips to WV/KY/TN. Greasing the wheel bearings, Changed the front and rear diff fluid, now that I'm at 1,800 miles. I looked over the L&W arms and they were all pretty loose. So I called L&W and ordered another bag of hemi joints. $50 delivered so not too bad. But it seems like they only last about 400-500 miles. I even asked the gal at L&W if they had a heavier duty hemi joint and she said no, these are the ones we use in all our units. I emailed SuperATV to inquire if their warranty covered the hemi joints. It didn't, but I can't blame them. Not sure what to do going forward. I guess I'll just change the hemi joints twice a year. I do grease them up considerably with Bel-ray waterproof grease. I also add grease if I see them needing it. Maybe I'm just too hard on them. I'm a young guy, only 53, so my riding style must be too difficult for these. Yea, I'm being a comic, but I am certainly frustrated.

Unless the joints are sealed and designed to be greased, I would not grease them. Grease attracts dust which will work it's way into the joint and that will prematurely wear out the joints.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I’m going to run these on my tie rods and see if the FK rod ends last longer…….

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Going into fall I do a lot of maintenance for our trips to WV/KY/TN. Greasing the wheel bearings, Changed the front and rear diff fluid, now that I'm at 1,800 miles. I looked over the L&W arms and they were all pretty loose. So I called L&W and ordered another bag of hemi joints. $50 delivered so not too bad. But it seems like they only last about 400-500 miles. I even asked the gal at L&W if they had a heavier duty hemi joint and she said no, these are the ones we use in all our units. I emailed SuperATV to inquire if their warranty covered the hemi joints. It didn't, but I can't blame them. Not sure what to do going forward. I guess I'll just change the hemi joints twice a year. I do grease them up considerably with Bel-ray waterproof grease. I also add grease if I see them needing it. Maybe I'm just too hard on them. I'm a young guy, only 53, so my riding style must be too difficult for these. Yea, I'm being a comic, but I am certainly frustrated.

Maybe try Heim joints instead of Hemi joints? 😂

Preparation H might help you though 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[SuperATV]

Like @PaulF said, you don't really want to grease your heims. Just run them as is. Grease its going to attract dust and dirt and wear them down faster. Run them dry and try to keep them clean after big rides.

 

[Lil_Steve]

Sorry to hear this, Phil, since I'm also running the rear L&W radius rods. Thanks for the heads up. @Lil_Steve has them also.

So far, so good on my L&W Fab heim joints. I've got over 4K miles on em and last I checked they were still tight. For reference, I never grease or lube them, and drive aggressively more than not. I think the other posters are onto to something about not lubing them, @PhilCod see how long they last without any lubrication, hopefully that's the answer.

 

[snuffnwhisky]

I’m going to run these on my tie rods and see if the FK rod ends last longer…….View attachment 297672

I've had good luck with those boots. They are a PITA to put on. Get a needle tip for a grease gun and you can pull the edge of the boot out and fill them full of grease.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

I’m going to run these on my tie rods and see if the FK rod ends last longer…….View attachment 297672

I'm thinking a 5/8 heim is too small to use for steering on go fast machines. My inners and outers are slightly loose after 1 race and a practice day, and too loose for comfort after the 2nd race. We will call it 35-40 laps.

Doubt those boots will help much. The heims on the rack side of my race car are inside the rack boots where there is plenty of grease and no dirt/water and they still get loose as fast as the outer that are exposed to the elements.

I found some high grade 5/8 cromo heims that may hold up better but im reluctant to try them at $98 each! 😮

Aurora PRM series

 

[HondaTech]

I'm thinking a 5/8 heim is too small to use for steering on go fast machines. My inners and outers are slightly loose after 1 race and a practice day, and too loose for comfort after the 2nd race. We will call it 35-40 laps.

Doubt those boots will help much. The heims on the rack side of my race car are inside the rack boots where there is plenty of grease and no dirt/water and they still get loose as fast as the outer that are exposed to the elements.

I found some high grade 5/8 cromo heims that may hold up better but im reluctant to try them at $98 each! 😮

Aurora PRM series

View attachment 297827

We haven't had any problems with Jamies tie rod heims. We do have issues keeping the spindle stand tight though.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

We haven't had any problems with Jamies tie rod heims. We do have issues keeping the spindle stand tight though.

Does Jamie use 5/8 heims or are they bigger?

I'm sure me running 15 x 8 wheels with zero offset on the front doesn't do those steering heims any favors. And I'm not gonna lie.... I may or may not do some rubbing while I'm racing. 😁

 

[HondaTech]

Does Jamie use 5/8 heims or are they bigger?

I'm sure me running 15 x 8 wheels with zero offset on the front doesn't do those steering heims any favors. And I'm not gonna lie.... I may or may not do some rubbing while I'm racing. 😁

I couldn't tell you, tbh. They've never failed through 2 sheered knuckles. Even the standoffs havent broken, it just blows the hole out of the upright.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

To keep the studs tight try this:

Green sleeve lock on the stud before inserting it into the taper of the knuckle and red lock tight on the nut holding the stud. I also crank the s*** out of the nut. Factory torque specs be damned!

My ZRP studs haven't loosened once all season using that method.

 

[PhilCod]

Thanks for the input. I'll try not greasing them on the next time around.

I don't see where RaceCo makes the radius rod arms for the TalonX. They are pricey, they should last!

 

[nm6r]

Over 4k hard, fun miles on my L&W radius rods on my 1000R. No issues here. I do all kinds of riding except mud.

 

[208Talon]

I have the super ATV ones and have probably 1500 or more miles on them. Snow, Sand, mud and dust. Never greased them and they are still tight. When they make noise I spray water on them LOL I ran Heim joints on my jeeps and even thou they squeak and make noise I think only had to replace a few due to "wearing out" and I abused the hell out of them without ever greasing. I think others are on same path. Just don't grease them. Also make sure you don't have some weird binding load on them that is causing the wear out.

 

[Vondy]

My L&W lowers are getting loose 1700miles. One end is real bad. Uppers seem tight still, guessing its because the lower sees more mud, water and abuse.

 

[PhilCod]

New record! The heim joints in the bottom right arm are loose at 375 miles!! Seriously I think I have a bad wheel issue or a bad right lower arm from L&W. The talon goes in for the fuel pump recall on November 22nd, so I'm going to have the dealership check it out.