Solid swaybar End link

[rEclipserGST]

My buddy just got these for his Subaru Forester. My question is why don't we have any vendors that offer something as sexy as these for our sway bar end-links?

I will be going to the parts store tomorrow and comparing stock end links to these to see if we can get away with something.

 

[Calan]

Those look like polyurethane inserts to me... aka not solid.

They do look nice though.

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

Those look like polyurethane inserts to me... aka not solid.

They do look nice though.

Polyurethane or not they sure do look 1,000 times beefier than our twig-like end links .

 

[turbosax2]

Do Forester's break their stock end links? Rather than those, why not make your own adjustable end links?

 

[knochgoon24]

I have a WRX friend that just got a set of those. Their stock endlinks are plastic(?) and C shaped. How often to you hear of DSMs breaking endlinks? Theirs are very poorly constructed.

 

[eclipsh]

I'm doing mechanics of materials homework right now so I pulled some quick numbers:

Assuming ASTM-A36 alloy and 5/16" diameter our end links can hold over 4300 lbs before permanently stretching. Better steels hold over 5000 lbs at that diameter.

So don't sweat it. You could hang our cars by one end link.

 

[Calan]

I'm doing mechanics of materials homework right now so I pulled some quick numbers:

Assuming ASTM-A36 alloy and 5/16" diameter our end links can hold over 4300 lbs before permanently stretching. Better steels hold over 5000 lbs at that diameter.

So don't sweat it. You could hang our cars by one end link.

I doubt if they are A36... probably something with a bit higher yield strength. Did you consider dynamic loading (the effects of vertical and lateral g forces) on those links when you came to that conclusion?

(Just bustin' your chops.)

 

[Oldsid]

I'm doing mechanics of materials homework right now so I pulled some quick numbers:

Assuming ASTM-A36 alloy and 5/16" diameter our end links can hold over 4300 lbs before permanently stretching. Better steels hold over 5000 lbs at that diameter.

So don't sweat it. You could hang our cars by one end link.

You should use the yield strength to calculate the load not the tensile strength. That would give you a load of around 2760lb and in tension only. Since this a primary stress I doubt you can hang your car from the link!

 

[Calan]

You should use the yield strength to calculate the load not the tensile strength. That would give you a load of around 2760lb and in tension only. Since this a primary stress I doubt you can hang your car from the link!

Not to mention, end links like to fail in shear (bending) more so than tension or compression. I think it would take a pretty strange scenario (and a really heavy suspension) to put that much stress on an end link solely in tension.

 

[Oldsid]

Not to mention, end links like to fail in shear (bending); not tension or compression. I think it would take a pretty strange scenario (and a really heavy suspension) to put that much stress on an end link in tension.

I did not want to scare him with all that! I just wanted to help him do his homework.

 

[Calan]

I did not want to scare him with all that! I just wanted to help him do his homework.

We're just extending his homework. Think of it as an early introduction to applied mechanics.

 

[eclipsh]

Gah! I just got schooled

Yeah, we haven't gotten to bending yet.

Also, my bad, I did use UTS, not yield. I fail. I have a test tomorrow morning too!

 

[Oldsid]

Gah! I just got schooled

Yeah, we haven't gotten to bending yet.

Also, my bad, I did use UTS, not yield. I fail. I have a test tomorrow morning too!

Don't worry, it is just the beginning of the semester. You will have plenty of long nights to study. Good luck in your test!

 

[rEclipserGST]

So all in all, invest in some other suspension mods before these? Next mod I feel is koni shocks. Just got the solid roll stops installed and now I am addicted to more traction & control.

 

[jtmcinder]

My buddy just got these for his Subaru Forester. My question is why don't we have any vendors that offer something as sexy as these for our sway bar end-links?

Maybe those pass for "sexy" these days, but they are a very bad design. You do not want compliance in an end-link, so you should not use urethane bushings; you should use a ball-joint. Likewise, you do not want any binding, so you should not use urethane bushings; you should use a ball-joint. Getting the idea?

Maybe that's "sexy," but it's a really bad design.

 

[snowborder714]

I wouldn't worry about changing sway bar end links unless yours need replaced or you need to be able to adjust for zero preload on the sway bar when corner balancing.

 

[ACM]

I have one stock end link on each a/r bar, and one home-made adjustable. They have been on the car since 2000 or 2001. The home-made links will need their rod ends replacing for this season, but the factory ones still have zero play. Since that car does nothing but constantly load the a/r bars in alternating directions, I believe I can vouch for the stock end links

Fluro have some drop-dead sexy SS rod ends with integral pins - I may just be forced to change to those