MDB Quick-Disconnect Swaybar Links...

[cbbryan]

Whats the status of these? Two of the factory ones are broken on my TB. I would like a set if they are ready or if you need any further testing.

[bartonmd]

I haven't touched them lately, to be honest... The ones out there are still out there, gathering data...

If you don't need it like tomorrow, I can hook you up...

Our conversation with other guy got me thinking, and I may try and set of female heims with some 1/2-20 all-thread in the middle, to see how they work out...

Shoot me a PM if you're interested...

Thanks,
Mike

[HARDTRAILZ]

Consider it sent. The ghetto bolt on---not quick connects I got from Cali are clunking again. Call me and tell what heims to order...

[MD_trailblazer]

Are these ready for ordering as I'm in the process of looking for qd's for my trailblazer

If so are they available for both front and rear

Thanks please let me know


Also is there anyone here in the Maryland area?

[Nakashige]

JD is....

[bartonmd]

They're not really in the ordering process just yet, and while they aren't much different, I just haven't done any rears, yet.

Mike

[Skidder]

Mike,

Any updates on this topic?

[bartonmd]

I haven't touched them, to be honest... Several of us are running them and they seem to hold up fine.

When I get a free minute, I'm going to post how to make them, yourself, without a welder. Just takes some female heims, some all-thread, some bolts, some lug nuts, some pins, a cutoff wheel, a drill, and something to hold the bolt while you drill it.

Mike

[snowmirage]

That would be great mike, more or less the perfect project for me.

[bartonmd]

This is copied from an email where I told someone how to make them, some time ago:

MCMaster Carr:

(4) 4444T231 (Steel Ball Joint Rod End with Grease Fitting 1/2"-20 RH Fem Shank, 1/2" Ball ID, 1-1/16" L Thrd)
(1) 98957A809 (ASTM A193 Grade B7 Alloy Steel Threaded Rod Plain Finish, 1/2"-20 Thread, 2' Length)



Local auto parts store:

(4) 1/2-20 lug nuts that use a 3/4" wrench



Local hardware store (or Fastenal, or McMaster, if you don't have a good one close)

(4) 1/2-20 x 3.5" long bolts, grade 8
(4) 1/2-20 prevailing torque nuts (nuts with a crimp on one side, so you can't put them on by hand. They take a wrench the whole way.)
(8) 1/2" grade 8 lock washers
(4) 3/16" tractor pins (the kind with the ring that flips around to hold them in place)


So, you cut the all-thread and put it into the heims at whatever length works for your setup (I usually go ~1-1.5" or so longer than stock). The heims are done.

Onto the bolts... While there's still a bolt head put the lug nuts on tight to the end of the threads, with the taper pointing toward the non-threaded part of the bolt. Then cut off the bolt head, and clean the cut up.

Next, stick the bolt in a vice on the drill press, and drill a hair bigger than a 3/16" hole ~3/8" from the freshly cut end.


Now, you just put it all together. The order goes, from the cut end:

- cut end
- tractor pin
- lock washer (this just spreads the load out. Pins seem to bend on occasion without the washer there)
- heim
- lug nut
- mounting flange on the control arm
- lock washer
- prevailing torque nut


Somewhat like this, except with female heims and only 1 lock washer where the nuts go:

[Kuchar09]

I'm looking at making these and noticed the part number is wrong.

(1) 98957A809 (ASTM A193 Grade B7 Alloy Steel Threaded Rod Plain Finish, 1/2"-20 Thread, 2' Length)

I believe that is correct since nothing showed up with your part number.
Thanks for this info by the way!!

[bartonmd]

I'm looking at making these and noticed the part number is wrong.

(1) 98957A809 (ASTM A193 Grade B7 Alloy Steel Threaded Rod Plain Finish, 1/2"-20 Thread, 2' Length)

I believe that is correct since nothing showed up with your part number.
Thanks for this info by the way!!

Yeah, you're right, thanks!

Mike

[Skidder]

Mike,

When you get the time, could you develop a complete McMaster part number list for this project?

[Moots1288]

Mike,

When you get the time, could you develop a complete McMaster part number list for this project?

If you look he has posted a whole parts list already multiple times.

[bartonmd]

Thanks moots! Yeah, if you look back a few posts, I posted the full p/n and how-to.

Mike

[bartonmd]

Went back and looked. The parts that don't have mcmaster numbers I got elsewhere. The mcmaster bolts don't have enough thread on them in that length, so i used them from fastenal. Also got the prevailing torque nuts from there, and the pins from Rural King. Mcmaster doesn't have lugnuts, so i got those from my local auto parts store.

Mike

[mason10198]

I created a super quick webpage with hyperlinks to the part numbers and instructions based on MDBFabs instructions on how to build the Quick Disconnects.
The site I created is here: www.tbswaydisconnects.netai.net

[HARDTRAILZ]

Our conversation with other guy got me thinking, and I may try and set of female heims with some 1/2-20 all-thread in the middle, to see how they work out...

My bolt-on version with the all-thread and female hiems as trying to consolidate info for people looking into these type DIY links.