Rod End Maintenance Questions

December 11, 2024, 07:21 PM

All the rod ends on my door car are approaching 15 years old. All of them are “lubed for life” or have a Teflon lining in them. I am having trouble with the car not rotating at the hit of the tire (spin issue) so I thought I would check all the rod ends for wear and binding. How do you check them for full range of movement and can I add a grease fitting to them and pump them full of grease without causing any new issues or just replace all of them with new ones? Is their a good source for quality replacements?

Tim

December 11, 2024, 10:39 PM

bry-war

I would think that grease would attract and retain grit, reducing the life of them. Consider cleaning them with a mineral based cleaner that won't break down the Teflon. There's more options than ever to replace them. Many transfer issues are resolved on the other end of the car.

December 11, 2024, 10:43 PM

Big Steve

They are a maintenance item IMO. Replace them, at 15 years old they owe you nothing.

December 12, 2024, 06:48 AM

CURTIS REED

No way I would put a zerk in a rod end that's in tension. JMO

I change my ends at 5 years. I do pull the rods each year and clean them in a solvent tank then lube. I got Aurora rod ends last time but I am going to switch back to FK.

December 12, 2024, 07:08 AM

Bob Payton

I would replace them all. You can removed the component with the rodend and grab the ball and see if it moves around in the housing. If the ball moves at all its bad.

December 12, 2024, 09:35 AM

markemark

Like others wrote prior, you want solid rod ends, no grease zerks. No Teflon. I prefer Aurora brand and use THIS KIT in my 4 link.

To lube I spray with WD40 and blow them dry. My car is always on a 2-post lift and I grab the bars, rotating to check for movement after returning from racing. I also check the wishbone slide for movement rotating the rod end.

My door car wears shocks and heims out in the trailer mostly.

December 12, 2024, 11:47 AM

thehueypilot

Thanks for all your replies! This issue started with slight spinning at the initial launch. I pushed down on the back end and the suspension moved up and down with a little resistance as it should but the front would not move until I opened (ccw) both adjustment knobs to the full soft position. The shocks are strange double adjustable. I sent them off for rebuild as they are 12 years old. Strange said there was nothing wrong with the shocks other than normal wear for their age. While waiting for the rebuilds to come back and I bought new shocks (same thing) so I could keep racing. The new ones did the exact same thing. I usually run “0” on the extension and “4” on the compression but anything greater than “0” on the compression the front end won’t move by pulling up and pushing down on the radiator support. My slicks had 244 passes so I replaced them as well but it still has the same random spinning making it almost impossible to dial. Any suggestions as to what it could be? So far all the rod ends check out good front and rear.

Tim

December 12, 2024, 11:48 AM

Al Alguire

At 15 years old they should have been replaced a few years ago.

December 12, 2024, 01:30 PM

Goob

quote:
Originally posted by thehueypilot:
Thanks for all your replies! This issue started with slight spinning at the initial launch. I pushed down on the back end and the suspension moved up and down with a little resistance as it should but the front would not move until I opened (ccw) both adjustment knobs to the full soft position. The shocks are strange double adjustable. I sent them off for rebuild as they are 12 years old. Strange said there was nothing wrong with the shocks other than normal wear for their age. While waiting for the rebuilds to come back and I bought new shocks (same thing) so I could keep racing. The new ones did the exact same thing. I usually run “0” on the extension and “4” on the compression but anything greater than “0” on the compression the front end won’t move by pulling up and pushing down on the radiator support. My slicks had 244 passes so I replaced them as well but it still has the same random spinning making it almost impossible to dial. Any suggestions as to what it could be? So far all the rod ends check out good front and rear.

Tim

Sounds like your springs have taken a set.

December 12, 2024, 03:48 PM

thehueypilot

Interesting that you mention spring set as I thought the same thing and replaced the front from 12” x 175 lbs coil overs to 14” x 150 lbs. I did not change out the rear. I noticed over the summer that the car was sitting lower on the driver’s side which is why I started looking at the coil overs and leveled the car with weight in the drivers seat. The rear springs have been in the car for about 12 years as well.

Tim

January 03, 2025, 09:00 PM

thehueypilot

I have replaced all the rod ends (8) in the back end of the car and found two that were really worn out. I can now move the front end of the car up and down with little effort. I guess the worn rod ends were locking up the suspension. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Tim

January 09, 2025, 01:25 PM

arthurjohnston

I agree with bry-war that would attract dirt and sand, which can harm the mechanism

January 10, 2025, 07:47 AM

FootbrakeJim

quote:
Originally posted by thehueypilot:
I have replaced all the rod ends (8) in the back end of the car and found two that were really worn out. I can now move the front end of the car up and down with little effort. I guess the worn rod ends were locking up the suspension. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Tim

Tim, Glad to hear you resolved the issue, and thanks for sharing the solution with us.

March 26, 2025, 06:39 PM

thehueypilot

I went to a test/tune last Saturday and can report 3 passes 1.438, 1.439, 1.437 with no tire spin at all and the car was back to rotating and pulling the wheels a couple of inches off the ground. Worn and “locked up” rod ends were my main issue for the last year.

One last question: Is there a trick to tightening the jam nuts on each end of the lower or upper support tube without the rod end bearing twisting? How do you keep them inline while tightening?

Tim

March 26, 2025, 06:52 PM

B KING

quote:
Originally posted by thehueypilot:
I went to a test/tune last Saturday and can report 3 passes 1.438, 1.439, 1.437 with no tire spin at all and the car was back to rotating and pulling the wheels a couple of inches off the ground. Worn and “locked up” rod ends were my main issue for the last year.
Tim

Good to hear!

2BKING

March 26, 2025, 07:51 PM

CURTIS REED

quote:
Originally posted by thehueypilot:

One last question: Is there a trick to tightening the jam nuts on each end of the lower or upper support tube without the rod end bearing twisting? How do you keep them inline while tightening?

Tim

Big nut bored out to fit over the tube and welded to the middle so you can hold the tube as you tighten either jam nut.