Metal Rod Ends
 

Hi all,

I'm starting this thread to discus metal rod ends. I purchased the rod ends below (Power Day M3), from Amazon and almost immediately regretted it. The first pair that I pulled out of the bag had to be re-tapped in order for the set screw to thread in. After a few runs, they fell apart on the steering horn side of the steering link!
I have researched a few more sites, and found a plethora of options on RC4WD.com. Before I place another order, I searched RCC.com to see if there was a single brand that came up more than others, being used by fabricators / builders on this site. My findings were that there really isn't a big call for these or they aren't used a whole lot. Would you all say this is true? Are the Traxxas rod ends I see used by most people the only answer?
I love the look of the aluminum rod ends, but bottom line up front, if they are all going to function the way the Power Day rod ends did, I'm sticking to plastic.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Have you seen the heim rod ends ? Solid construction too https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0d45d1558a.jpg
And very scale look !


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Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

OK, I am seeing those on RC4WD's site now. That exact size is not in stock, but we can work with that.
Have you used these? They definitely have the scale look I am going for, but I need them to be able to take a beating.

Thank you for the recommendation.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Yeah I'd say they were pretty solid , they look really nice against black aluminium threaded tube too and they are a direct copy of the 1:1 scale used in a lot of custom 4x4 builds .


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Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Ok great. Thank you for the heads up. I will update in the Low Life Buggy build when start to replace them.

Any further insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Your very welcome buddy hope it works [emoji106]


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Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Boom Racing sells metal rod ends. I've never tried them, but I wouldn't hesitate to since Boom makes good stuff.

Here is one example, but search their site for other sizes.

Heavy Duty Silibushing Stud Ball Rod Ends 16MM (2) Black M3 Threads

http://www.boomracingrc.com/image/ca...bk-700x600.jpg

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

The Traxxas and RPM rod ends are better in almost every way. They have better tolerances, last longer, and I would argue that they're more durable.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

I've had metal rc4wd rod ends on various things I've got second hand in the past....they are sloppy the press fittings like to fall out. Traxxas is the way to go for rod ends imo.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

I have the Traxxas rod ends that are used in the TRX4, much heavier duty than the regular Traxxas rod ends, they're bigger too so they may need some clearancing to fit in certain spots

http://thumbs.subefotos.com/bdb273f7...d8955ef5do.jpg

From left to right: Axial 4mm, Traxxas 4mm, Traxxas TRX4 4mm

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

I like the trx4 rod ends I've used the bent and offset rod ends on my two newest builds. Work great on steering links when you need more clearance.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

I would stick with the Traxxas or RPM. I prefer the RPM as they give you colour options as well. I have tried a few different metal ones over the years but all end in failure. I think there more for looks and a shelf. IMO

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

I have a hole bunch of those cheap rod ends i used a few o-rings on the ends and a washer on single sheer setups and they work great i had to do that to my rc4wd rod ends also so they arent anybetter my traxxass rod ends poped in 2 packs ive drilled 2 out and retaped them for my vanquish links and i havent had any issues since

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Great information all around. I do want that scale look, but I do want to be able to enjoy my RC's consistently, not having to replace little odds and ends here and there for the sake of maintain the scale look.

I will look in to RPM as well.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

RC_Channel.com sells metal rod ends, as does McMaster-Carr, although I don't think that the good quality industrial ones from MC go down to M3 eye diameter

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Ive used the rc channel ones before both the ones with the rubber and the all metal ones and they wer garbage

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Try these on for size. Miniatures of the real deal. Not cheap, not cheesy either. Use the filter for sizes you are looking for.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#metric-rod-ends/=19wgyao

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Hmmm... this pleases me. I will considernthese from mc c in the future. For on road... reduced grip purposes. ;)

The problem with metal rod ends is that most that I have seen have the ball sandwich pressed between two retaner sleeves, one on each side. They wear out quickly or seperate and are none rebuildable. For the price and how quickly they become sloppy to me is not worth it. Traxxas rod ends are cheap and available everywhere. If you strech or damege one they are easy to replace on the trail with the e tras you have in your trail pack. The other good part about the traxxas rod ends are they can be used as an engineered weak link so you dont damage other more expensive or harder source/ replace parts.

The only engineered replaceable metal ball end are a modified version on vanguish trailing arm type rear lowers made for wraith, bomber, yeti builds, and the reports have been less than favorable.

Re: Metal Rod Ends
 

Words well spoken THUNDER PRO. What is going to be your weak link in the chain of things that break. However, if the end on the skid kept going south om me, I'd switch to metal in a heart beat. If the skid breaks, you have a bad design. Jato steering rod ends have a mile of body to be threaded into for what its worth.