Which suspension bushings are safe to replace with heim joints on a DD?

[eclipsh]

I'm planning out my future suspension upgrades and pagosa dsm and I are talking about installing heim joints / spherical bearings at various points. Right now we're talking about replacing the compression arm bushing with a spherical bearing. It has me a little concerned though. Engineers please jump in if you have good info to share.

I am worried that removing the rubber and replacing it with steel for the compression arm will greatly increase the risk of it breaking under stresses like pot holes or road debris. My thoughts are that the rubber helps dampen sharp stresses like these but that the metal bushing won't offer this safety feature.

The flip side of this is that it could also just help redirect more of that force upwards into the shock assembly where it should be going in the first place.

This bushing is the one that worries me most largely due to the way the arm curves. It just seems like it creates a weak point that could snap. I know a lot of the other arms are perfectly safe to swap out and I'll work on those. Are there other bushings I should leave rubber or urethane on a DD car? It isn't ride quality that concerns me so much as safety.

Thanks!

 

[nuclearr]

I would not put steel bushings on a dd the harmonics caused buy dd will eventually lead to some thing cracking most likely the sub frame. The ride would be horrible and if you hit a curb by mistake you chance bending your sub frame much easier. I would rather run a stiffer urethane bushing than a solid one.

 

[greengoblin]

Are your compression arms ike a 2g? If so those bolts are in single shear and I'd worry too. I'm looking at how to tackle this on my car currently. However my car is not going to be anything near a DD.

Kevin

 

[eclipsh]

Are your compression arms ike a 2g?

Kevin

Nope, your compression arms are like mine They put them in the Galant first The suspensions are identical.

Nuklearr, do you have any more information on the harmonics and what they'll do? I had some heim joints in my 1g suspension and pagosa DSM has quite a few. I've not noticed any real loss in ride comfort due to them but my 1g had pretty stiff springs. Response just seemed crisper wherever they went in.

 

[greengoblin]

Nope, your compression arms are like mine They put them in the Galant first The suspensions are identical.

Nuklearr, do you have any more information on the harmonics and what they'll do? I had some heim joints in my 1g suspension and pagosa DSM has quite a few. I've not noticed any real loss in ride comfort due to them but my 1g had pretty stiff springs. Response just seemed crisper wherever they went in.

I have been in numerous street rods that ride on all spherical bearings and they rode quite well IMO. What most people are worried about is the chance that with time the sheet metal could develop cracks and tears from the much increased peak loads. This is a valid concerns since our car where not design with this type bearings in mind.

The compression arm is indeed a place I'd worry then. You are going to need to figure out how to place the load bolts in double shear. I'd also like to see how you guys are planing on doing the bearing. Post up your ideas in my thread on spherical bearings or pm me if you would. I should have plans up shortly for how to build all the lower arms on the rear.

Kevin