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Rod Ends

TwiztidDevil

Rock Stacker
Joined
Mar 7, 2020
Messages
61
Location
SPRINGFIELD
Hi guys I've just purchased a set of Incision 1/4 stainless steel links for HPM custom I am building. However they came with plastic rod ends. I want to replace them with aluminum rod ends but when I look at the rod ends it only gives sizes via M3 or M4. I have no clue what that means. Can someone please explain to me which rod ends I need? I am greatly appreciative of all advice.

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You shouldn't have any issues with the ones your links came with.

Don't know a single person who runs metal rod ends, but I know a few who have tried and absolutely hated them.
 
The aluminum housing rod ends with the steed pivot balls are awful. They get sloppy in no time. Stick with Traxxas Revo or Trx4 rod ends for cheap and durable. You can break them, but not easily. I think of them as an acceptable "fuse" which saves on breakage of costlier parts.
 
Hi guys I've just purchased a set of Incision 1/4 stainless steel links for HPM custom I am building. However they came with plastic rod ends. I want to replace them with aluminum rod ends but when I look at the rod ends it only gives sizes via M3 or M4. I have no clue what that means. Can someone please explain to me which rod ends I need? I am greatly appreciative of all advice.

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To answer the M3 and M4 question, this is the diameter of the thread in millimeters and for M3 will usually be shown as M3x0.5 where 0.5 is the thread pitch (in mm). You will also see it as 3mm or 4mm. 3mm is approximately 1/8" diameter and 4mm is approximately 5/32" diameter.

The closest to these in North America is #6 machine screw to replace 3mm and #8 to replace the 4mm. #6 thread is usually shown as #6-32 where 32 is the thread pitch. #8 would be #8-32.

Both the North American thread sizes are slightly larger diameter than the metric. You can't directly replace the metric thread with the American standard thread but plastic rod ends designed for 3mm can be threaded with #6-32 and the 4mm can be threaded with the #8-32. You will see this on here when people are talking about using all-thread and tubing to make their own custom links.

As indicated by others here, metal rod ends get loose real quick but if you're just going for "the look", well, you will need to decide . . . . . . .
 
Thanks for the info guys. I just thought the metal ones would be more durable than the plastic. I am definitely going for functionality I will happily keep using the ones that came with the links.

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The problem with the aluminum rod ends is that they wear rapidly especially in the gritty environment they are exposed to and lubricating them only makes the problem worse. On the other hand, plastic rod ends are naturally self-lubricating and wear resistant when used with steel balls. As others have said some of the best plastic rod ends on the market are those from Traxxas.
 
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i still run aluminum rod ends on 1 rig like sead before sloppy as all getup the ones run in double sheer i have been able to use washers and orings to eliminate the slop but its a pain in the bumper the ones in single sheer had to go to much slop yes they are stronger but that brings other problems eith it the threads wont pull out they just sheer the threads clean off ruining the link and cost alot more than plastic i havent had any luck with anything traxxasss including there rod ends last time i tryed them they dident last 1 run one was cracked and one was snaped clean off first time out i settaled on rc4wd rod ends there vary cheap and seem to be working for me and a pack of 20 pcs gives me plenty of spares
 
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