Hiem Joint Tie Rod Ends

Im Thinking of using hiem joints for my outter tie rods and was wondering if i should use a standard grade 8 bolt and drill out the spindle or use a tie rod adapter?  
Specs-Stud is 5-1/8" longSteering arm end has 7/16" threadTie rod end has 5/8" thread and is 3" long with 2-5/8" of thread10 degree taper
If i use one of these which is adjustable, how do i set it up? do i lay out the car and make the tie rod as level to the ground as possible or set it at ride hieght ? I know the alignment will set the length or the rods. Also which hiem joints are recomended for tie rods?

use the bolt. the spacer shown puts the pivot point far from where it needs to be. you could experience toe change through the travel or other unwanted effects. a bolt puts the heim where the original pivot was.

Edited: 11/7/2009 9:27:28 AM by e10pvmt

i am using those.....for now....the above statement is not entirely true....you can adjust how far from the spindle you want the link.....i am using mine close to the spindle and cutting off the excess....but you could do it either way.....the biggest issue is do you want the heim on top or bottom of the spindle.....that adapter has to go the direction you stock tie rod joint is situated.....i myself may go to the bolt but that's because i may need the tie rod underneath the spindle and not on top. as for setup...max is the best to talk to but i think i am correct in saying the tie rod should run parallel to the lower control arm throughout travel to limit bumpsteer

Mine are on the bottom now so i think it would make sense to mount them that way. If i use the bolt do i need to drill out the spindle so its not tapered or just get a bolt the size of the smaller hole? And why would you space it down like this one? advantage/disadvantage?

Edited: 11/7/2009 4:00:30 PM by notlowyet

That one just looks like its spaced down so that its parallel with the lower control arm.   Also, where are you guys finding these adapters at so you can use the heim instead?

they can  be spaced down to correct angles related to tie rod and LCA.  These work great when you are putting spindles from one truck on another.  Where did you find these, the last ones I used i had to jimmy rig myself

Just type in bumpsteer in ebay and you'll see a bunch of them pop up.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Adjustable-Tie-Rod-Adapter-Stud-to-Heim,3333.html?sc=WGB&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=GoogleBase

the style in the original post is used so that you don't have to drill out the spindle.  The only reason that you would even use it spaced down is if you have moved your steering or your control arm mounts.  You also should not be flipping the side the pivot mounts to unless you have altered the steering or control arm location. Stating that your steering should be parallel with your lower control arm is very mis-leading, this may be the case in some situations but is not always the case. If for whatever reason you decide that you don't want to use the original bolt with a tapered end and need to use a grade 8 bolt, you need to drill/ream out the taper in the spindle and then most likely you will need to sleeve the hole to bring it down to size.  Whatever you do, do not just put a grade 8 bolt into a tapered hole.  All of the force will be on the tiniest sliver of the tapered hole which will eventually start crushing it and lead to a ton of slop in your steering mount

Thanks for the straight forward answer. I think ill be using the tie rod adapter and keeping the tie rod at a little lower line than factory due to the amount or tow in i have as the car lays out.