As I just described in this thread, post #12 - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=113061 -
I am getting rid of my h-sport arms in favor of the heim-jointed altas.

Is there anything special I need to do to maintain the heim joints? Any special products I need to know about? I'm not looking to keep noise down, just to keep longevity up.

Thanks a lot for your help,

mb

 

Really nothing to do to maintain. Just try and keep out of those sloppy winter roads. Hiems are basically disposable when they get tired.
Do not lube them. That will attract dirt and shorten the live rapidly. Figure you may have to replace them once a year if you daily drive the car. About $15 to $20 per hiem.

 

i dont lube my hiem joints either.

 

If all goes to plan, they won't see salt, snow or any winter driving. Thanks for the information.

mb

 

in my case, no rain either.

 

mb,

I basically agee. Wish more people would read the posts and skip the after market products that use urethane bushings. Spherical ball joints don't typically fail like the urethane joints, but they do wear. I'd do spherical ball joints again and again. No substitute when performance is a priority and comfort is still quite acceptable.

That said, I'm getting three years out of my Teflon lined Alta joints all over the suspension and am still quite happy. I have sprayed the joints with graphite lube, which is dry and doesn't seem to attract grit.

But, should you get to the point where you want to replace them think twice about which joints you substitute. Go for Teflon lined and go for the ones with ( I cannot dial up the exactly correct term) a tolerance for high degrees of angularity. Popped a couple of sway bar links a few years ago using standard joints which didn't permit the range of angularity that my suspension needed. I've just delt with Alta and paid their price and not had any failures or particular noise issues. I'm one happy camper.

My best,
John Petrich in Seattle

 

You're thinking of "high misalignment" heim joints. It's kind of a funny term, because it almost sounds like there's something wrong with them.

I didn't even look at any of the control arms with heim joints, because they're not legal for my autocross class (STX), but it makes sense that getting the teflon-lined ones that are designed for a large amount of articulation would be the way to go.

 

I've popped a total of 6 heims on my end links (front only-running h-sport comps)....

 

Anyone know where to get replacement joints for the Alta endlinks?

 

If you can get the correct measurement dimensions,
then you can find them easily.

If you cannot measure them accurately, or if it's just too much of a hassle, then try writing Alta to ask them about what size they used and see if they respond.

Cheap option:


(note: I have no idea of the right size for the Alta endlinks, just linked to that Amazon listing for an example)

:

Quality option:

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pr...p?Product=3066

.

 

We always used Aurora heim joints on the race car(s). They were replaced on a regular basis. Usually when they show signs of play/wear. Like someone above said, they are consumables and need to be replaced.

I have them on my adjustable camber plates as well as the end links on the rear sway bar. I have replaced both several times since they were new. Also be aware that some companies use low grade heim joints when they sell their products. You can replace them with high quality ones. Lots of places that sell racing parts sell high quality heim joints. Pegasus is a good place to start. Pegasus

 

Reached out to Alta. They offer replacement $72 all four ends