square or round

[meangreen]

O.K. I am going to be looking for a few things to make my rear four link in the next couple of weeks. I noticed that some people are now using square stock for the link instead of dom, I am up in the air about which one to use, anyone have opinions? If you could also leave a reason and type that would be great (also need Ideas for the ends too. [hiem,jonney joit, etc...])

[Wingman]

I\'ve heard it said that round DOM is far stronger because of thickness consistency and the manufacturing process (ie. no thick/thin spots).  It\'s more costly but worth it in strength.

[smichaelR22]

im going try square on my next project.  i have had good luck with 1.75\" 0.250\" wall for the CJ.  Erik bent 2\" 0.250 wall DOM on day one with the new buggy.  


dimentionally of course square is stronger than tube,  weather the consistancy of the DOM process makes round that much stronger i dont know.

[Ryan_25]

I used square 2x2x.250. Seems plenty strong on my old heavy ZJ. I never bent a link, I think they are still straight, someone should have looked when it was on its roof. :-)

[CoraC143]

that\'s sad ryan,

I\'m going with square for my build, especially after seeing Erik\'s results with DOM.

Johny\'s all the way. Stronger and rebuildable.

[MrMindless]

2\" .250 wall DOM should not have bent like Erik\'s did.  I think that\'s shady material.

[CoraC143]

ask Clayton square or round

[smichaelR22]

ryan, i tied a strap to your link when it was on its lid, it look good.

[Ryan_25]

Thats good to hear. I really had no doubt that those links would stand up to anything that the ZJ could do to them.

[Crusarius]

if they are going to bend, they are going to bend.

you will never build anything that won\'t bend.

square is cheaper easier to get weighs more and is square.

round is very expensive lighter smoother for dragging over rocks.

which one is better? depends on what rock bites you first.

oh yea .250 wall DOM is not something that you just walk into local steel store and get. most of the time it has to be ordered and its not even close to cheap.

I still prefer round. I think it looks alot cleaner.

[CoraC143]

I think square looks bada$$

[matt]

How about 7075 T6 aluminum?

6 foot of 2\" is roughly 100 bucks but then you have to tap it.

I would not use johnny joints, one side is only held in with a cir-clip and when the clip comes out of the groove and it will, the joint is useless.  Seen it happen too many times.  

Use RE joints or Ballistic fab, much better.

[ollllllo]

I think my link bending was a freaky thing, besides smike tested them at work for hardness and they were same as his. maybe I just hit a rock perfect to bend it. anyway...
I don\'t think ill buy the johnny joints again, cir-clips are falling out, they are very large which make it more difficult to mount in tight places (front of CJ7) and they were pretty expensive when u include the weld-in bungs.
prob go round again with teflon/kevlar heims.

[smichaelR22]

i gota go with matt on this one, one of my johnny joints is starting to blow out.

Troy brought over his links for his MJ to weld up sunday, and i really like the look of the Balistic joint.

i will replace with those when the time comes.