The Ruffstuff Heim Joint Revolution Continues!

[Gravel Maker]

UPDATE, 5/29/10

Big changes here at Ruffstuff on our Heim Joints! We have been doing some research and testing for the last 10 months and have come up with something very interesting! What we have discovered should have been very well known but seems to have been overlooked by the industry.

Everyone knows the benefit of Heat Treating and of course all of our heims are HT, its only common sense. Most of you know about Cryogenic Treating of metals after HT also, something that shouldn't be overlooked as we subject things to greater and greater stresses.

What has been overlooked are the benefits of Cryogenic Treating to other materials. I am talking about Plastics, Nylons, & Teflons, the very materials our Heim Joint bearing liners are made from. The realignment at the molecular level of the material smoothes the surface and improves density allowing for a much longer bearing life. 10 Months is not 5 years and we don't have a machine to put something through 20 million cycles but we have recorded less than 1/2 the wear in the test group in favor of the Cryo treated. That would indicate 50-100% longer lifespan of the joints that have been cryogenically treated.

With our limited testing ability I am going to have to side with the scientists opinion. I won't cite research sources, you all have Google too so you can do the same search and see for yourself!



The benefits are many and we simply haven't found anything detrimental from the process. The Cryogenic process also makes the HT Rod End AND Ball harder from further martensite conversion (Talk to the scientists). This process increases the ultimate radial static load 8-15% but we will not make any claims of further strength we cannot afford to prove but you can safely assume a 78,000lb RSL heim gains 3-5,000lbs in RSL.



This is the first product we have sold that hasn't been made by us, now they are made to our specs by one of the best manufactureres in the world. And by the end of next week all of our Heim Joints will be both Heat Treated & Cryogenically Treated!

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...g/RODENDS.html

[rokdog03]

I recently ordered some heims but was told by the sales personwho took my order that the 3/4 were heat treated but the 7/8 were not. Are the 7/8 heat treated?

[Gravel Maker]

They are as of Yesterday, we finally ran out of the others...We didn't want to do this til we had only our own rod ends in 3/4", 7/8", & 1.25"...

[TCARP1]

I just don't know how you do it Dan! You make an already awesome product better!!! Its crazy!

[kpj]

Originally Posted by TCARP1

I just don't know how you do it Dan! You make an already awesome product better!!! Its crazy!

And he has unbelievable customer support to boot.

[Gravel Maker]

I think I read too much Travis...

Thank you Kpj

[Gravel Maker]

BTW Travis, we will get some of these out for the 4405 rebuild too...

[Grindin_Gears]

Originally Posted by kpj

And he has unbelievable customer support to boot.

To say the least.

[heattreater]

We've been running the cryogenic process for the last 15 years on all types of nylons and teflons with great success I think it will just makes a great product even better.

[TCARP1]

Originally Posted by Gravel Maker

BTW Travis, we will get some of these out for the 4405 rebuild too...

I wouldnt dream of running any other heim! This will be the Ruffstuff 4405!

[Gravel Maker]

Just happy to get things rolling...

[Gravel Maker]

I agree, this has just been waiting to happen! The increased cost is marginal for the increased benefits...

We had to raise the Heim prices $1 each for the 3/4" & 7/8" and $3 for the 1.25" but if they last 50-100% longer and are stronger its a screaming deal!

[Gravel Maker]

Thank you all for being the driving force behind all we do!

This one was actually an easy one, just putting the information in the right ear was all it took. 3 Hours of research later and its a done deal! I wish all of our new products were so easy...

[Gravel Maker]

Thanks for all the orders and calls this morning on these, a great start to a new product!

[Gravel Maker]

Another 4500 1.25" heims should be arriving Monday or Tuesday!

[bam671]

hey dan i spoke to u about a week ago calling from guam. are u planning on making any 7/8x7/8 with 3/4 high misalign spacer? if so how much? thanks

[Gravel Maker]

We are but they are 4-6 weeks out...

[Gravel Maker]

just got electronic notification, 6870lbs of heims due for delivery Tuesday!

[flatlander757]

Ordered some 1.25" heims w/ the misalignment goodies from you today Dan... can't wait to get them on

How many degrees can the 1.25" heims(w/ 1.0" bores) with misalignment spacers down to a 5/8" bolt handle before binding? And whatever # degrees that is... could you specify whether that's in EACH direction or from one extreme to the other? Everyone seems to specify their max angles differently

Also I'm going to try and do some of my own research/work on that product idea I told you about when we had that talk on the phone the other day. I'm not normally a talk on the phone kind of guy, that was officially the longest conversation I've ever had with anyone... family included

Thanks again for your time!

[Gravel Maker]

Originally Posted by flatlander757

Ordered some 1.25" heims w/ the misalignment goodies from you today Dan... can't wait to get them on

How many degrees can the 1.25" heims(w/ 1.0" bores) with misalignment spacers down to a 5/8" bolt handle before binding? And whatever # degrees that is... could you specify whether that's in EACH direction or from one extreme to the other? Everyone seems to specify their max angles differently

Also I'm going to try and do some of my own research/work on that product idea I told you about when we had that talk on the phone the other day. I'm not normally a talk on the phone kind of guy, that was officially the longest conversation I've ever had with anyone... family included

Thanks again for your time!

Lets see, I guess I should go through it completely for everyone.

Each heim joint can rotate 34 degrees with our High Misalignment, it is all the same through our product line, 34 degrees is considered full misalignment so they are made for the same goal. The stock heim without misalignment will go 13-23 degrees (depending on the heim sizre) without bind (impact) with the through bolt.

That is with our first size misalignment option, in the case of the 1.25" heims that is 1" to 3/4" misalignment. The 1" to 5/8" misalignment adds 5-7 degrees available misalignment because the smaller bolt can have greater angle but the tradeoff is the less strength of the smaller bolt.

When you run 1 heim with a bushed sleeve on the other end most vehicles will never see bind (full twist of 34 degrees) because the body or tubework impacts before the axle can twist that far. However, a heim joint on both ends will allow for double the twist (68 degrees) before bind.

My general rule is if you are willing to cut the body somewhat or are building a buggy put heims on both ends, if you are looking for a more stock appearance run 1 heim and a bushed sleeve on the other end. We sell alot of bushed sleeves for that reason ($16.50 and it does smoothe out the ride and make the heims last longer on a mostly road rig.

[billybob13]

just ordered a bunch more heims and link brackets today.
thanks again for the great prices and great service.
i can't believe what i used to pay for this stuff...

[BamaSahara]

Dan did you get my order last week?

Matt Overton. Ordered a few 3/4 joints and a 7/8 joint also. Just wondering when to expect them.

[sandaddik2]

Originally Posted by kpj

And he has unbelievable customer support to boot.

x2 dans the man, helps me out alot and doesnt laugh at my stupid questions


if you need someone to test the new joints send me a set of joints and ill gladly do the testing for ya! lol

[twentyfootdaredevil]

Originally Posted by bam671

hey dan i spoke to u about a week ago calling from guam. are u planning on making any 7/8x7/8 with 3/4 high misalign spacer? if so how much? thanks

I am looking for these as well.

Please keep us posted on the progress.

Thanks

[Gravel Maker]

Very busy day and no time for Pirate til now...

Originally Posted by billybob13

just ordered a bunch more heims and link brackets today.
thanks again for the great prices and great service.
i can't believe what i used to pay for this stuff...

I know, me too...

Originally Posted by BamaSahara

Dan did you get my order last week?

Matt Overton. Ordered a few 3/4 joints and a 7/8 joint also. Just wondering when to expect them.

Good talking to you today Matt

Originally Posted by sandaddik2

x2 dans the man, helps me out alot and doesnt laugh at my stupid questions


if you need someone to test the new joints send me a set of joints and ill gladly do the testing for ya! lol

You know, you are the first person that has asked, ...

Originally Posted by twentyfootdaredevil

I am looking for these as well.

Please keep us posted on the progress.

Thanks

Thanks