Question about link pins

[Bill Lawless]

The new LinkPins I got are not bushing like the old they are little roller bearings.. Is this the new thing??
Just wondering when I press them in will it change the inside diameter which is the bearing race...

-Bill

[David Jones]

Where did you get them Bill? Do you have a picture? Who manufactured them, and was it a set with the link pins. I have never heard of any like that.

[Bill Lawless]

135BA213-B17F-422A-93FC-97645E5F3563.jpeg (2.06 MiB) Viewed 1327 times

[Vic Skirmants]

JC Whitney had those YEARS ago.

[Bill Lawless]

JC Whitney had those YEARS ago.

What do you recommend Vic, ditch these and get a regular set with bushing.. Don't want to do all this work and put junk in there!!!!

-Bill

[Vic Skirmants]

Actually, they should be superior to the stock set-up. Where did you get them?

[Bill Lawless]

Actually, they should be superior to the stock set-up. Where did you get them?

eBay.. I saw somebody posted they had an extra Brand New set..

Thanks,
-Bill

[Dick Weiss]

I'd be concerned about the 'smallness' of the needle bearings receiving shock loads (from rough roads)
and causing breakage; The trailing arm roller bearings in the torgue tubs are much thicker to receive
suspension loads/impacts. I do remember JC Whitney having them for sale, but I never used them.

[Dick Weiss]

BTW, if the link pins aren't heat-treated for a hardened surface, you can guess what's gonna happen
to the pin's surface--unless they've been hardened.
Can you scratch the surface w/a file?

[Bill Lawless]

BTW, if the link pins aren't heat-treated for a hardened surface, you can guess what's gonna happen
to the pin's surface--unless they've been hardened.
Can you scratch the surface w/a file?

Good Point Dick, Thanks..

[John Clarke]

Aren't Roller Bearings meant to roll, not pivot?
Don't think they are designed for that application. In a plain bushing the load is spread equally across the bearing surface. In a roller bearing in that use the roller takes the full shock of any severe suspension movement, probably causing it to skid and then flat spot it! Just my humble opinion.
Cheers Jay

[Joris Koning]

Didn't the factory use this setup on the 550's?

[Bill Lawless]

Aren't Roller Bearings meant to roll, not pivot?

Not sure what you mean by this? All the roller bearings, pins, are in contact with the Link Pin(Inner Race) and the Bushing(Outer Race) at the same time.
When the wheel goes up they role in one direction, when it goes down it roles in the other.
But there is much less surface contact then in the case with bushings and flat spots may be an issue ???? But hard hits are smoothed out with the shock and torsion spring??
-Bill

[Vic Skirmants]

Didn't the factory use this setup on the 550's?

+1

[Bill Lawless]

Well, just finished putting these puppies in and first drive was quite nice..
I will be keeping an eye on these, roller link pins, and report back..