T1 bar end links ? teflon price $$$

[Z06Machine]

What's the story on the teflon lined links some of the vendors are selling ?. These are just Rod ends Male/Female right?.

Is there something special that I don't get?. I see them from $240 -$300 a set.

Yet they catalog for about $40 a piece or $160 a set with the teflon lining from some of the racing parts vendors.

If I order them from one of the racing parts catalogs am I getting the same thing?

[leaftye]

Part of what makes the expensive ones special is that they're aluminum. Try finding an aluminum female 1/2" rod end. I did, and couldn't find one at any price. I ended up buying steel parts. Cost me $50 to get male and female rod ends plus the stop nut for one sway bar. I'm sure the $240-500 rod ends are better in some way, but rod ends are still wear items. I'll go thru the cheap steel rod ends for the street, and maybe some day I'll fork over the big bucks for a dedicated track set. It's a lot of money to spend to save a couple ounces. Even then, only small fraction of that weight would be unsprung weight. If I get my rod ends before the end of the week, I'll take pictures of the assembled end-links, install them and post my results. They are QA-1 rod ends, so I won't bother weighing or measuring them since their specs are already in the catalog.

[DJWorm]

It's also the convienience of the teflon lined bushings which require less maintainance

[leaftye]

DJWorm, I bought the XM & XF rod ends, which are teflon/kevlar lined. I have no idea if these will be more durable than the OEM T1 parts, but for $25 per end-link, they're cheap enough for me to replace them regularly.

QA-1 had zerk grease fittings in their catalog, and I believe they install them. If/when this new set goes bad, I'll try a set with grease fittings next time. I did talk to a rep from QA-1 about getting a zerk fitting, and he said "the rod ends cost less than $13, why go thru the added hassle of greasing it". Good point.

There was another place where I saw a dust boot for rod ends. The dust boot was marketed towards rally racers, but it may be useful for us too.

Eugene

[Z06Machine]

Didn't see the alum part. But are they as strong as the Alum?, after doing some reading it appears the chromoly ones are better than carbon steel, no mentions of aluminum.

[ghoffman]

I have always had good service from Aurora, the have any type you want and I consider them the best. They "FEATURE A FULL RANGE OF PRODUCTS, FROM ECONOMY COMMERCIAL TO MS APPROVED AEROSPACE BEARINGS."

http://www.aurorabearing.com/

[Arnoldir]

Hello Guys,

I have the T-1 links on my street driven Z, they started to squeek after the first time I drove it in the rain.

When I swapped wheels, I soaked them with a Dupont Teflon dry film I got Lowes. No more noises at all, even after weeks and several more rainy day drives.

[Z06Machine]

How many miles since you added the bars?, they don't rattle yet?

[Arnoldir]

Hello z06Machine,

I've got the T-1 end links front and rear on stock bars. 500 miles since install and after the slippery shootz she's been nice and quiet.

However, if I were doing it again I'd likely pop for the Teflon lined ones and forgetabout'em.

[leaftye]

QA-1 links are kevlar/teflon lined and weight 1 oz more than the T1 per link.

[SRV]

Originally Posted by leaftye

If I get my rod ends before the end of the week, I'll take pictures of the assembled end-links, install them and post my results.

How did it go? How much were they? Can you share the part numbers?