twisted minis
+1y
Actually Devon, a heim will be more expensive in the long run if you buy quality units. Say you buy a 5/8" QA1 chromoly heim, thats about $24-27 depending on where you go. Plus you need a tube adapter, $5-8. And misalignment spacers are a good idea, at $3 each and two per heim. That makes the total $35 to $41 per heim on a 4-link, plus jam nuts at $.15. A super pivot should be in the $30-35 range complete. A pivot joint is also cheaper to rebuild than a bushing in most cases, if you have the tools to take them apart.
Realistically it depends on what you want the 4-link to do. If you want something that just goes up and down, and will hug the corners really nice, I like bushings in all ends. If you want to hit dies, or 3 wheel, I recommend a bushing at the frame, and a heim or super pivot at the axle. The bushings at the frame will not bind, because they do not have to twist like the joints on the axle do.
Maybe I should write a tech article on different style link ends, and how the effect the vehicle.
A super pivot will not fit where a bushing once was. The super pivots are larger in diameter and are machined to accept the clips that hold it in place.
If you want to hit sides, a pivot joint will do it better than a bushing, and it will pivot farther. I have all bushings, and my truck will articulate around 7 inches if I let it. But its also stiffer.
When I linked that Mazda, it would articulate about 18 inches, more than some 4WD trucks. Also the amount of articulation you can get depends on the link setup, some are better than others for this.
And the 720 I am building right now, will be set up to articulate even more. And the link setup will have a low roll center to make it easier to 3 wheel. And I am using heims, pivot joints, and bushings on the 4-link.