<VV> Heim joint / Spherical rod ends

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/11/2012 7:46:54 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
epssax at yahoo.com writes:

I have  misnamed my rear suspension part.  It is a rear strut rod.  I  
can't get it to fit in the rear wheel assembly.  The bolt that  adjusts the 
rear camber won't go in because the the holes are  mis-aligned and I 
have tried many times and many things to get this strut rod  attached.  Thanks 
and sorry for not knowing the correct name.  I put  them on 5 years ago and 
was told they were him joints.  Ernie in  Louisville.    
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Ernie - "Heim" is a brand name for a line of "Spherical rod ends". There  
are many manufacturers. Here is what I suggest for your alignment. Disconnect 
 the inner pivot bolt and let that rod end go free. Then install the outer 
end  and the camber bolt. Now, from the rear of the car, jack up the tail 
end of the  trailing arm from underneath with a floor jack. This will compress 
the spring  and rotate the arm around the front pivot point. Do not let the 
trailing arm  compression lift up the rear of the car - assuming that it is 
on jack stands or  a lift.  Once the outer pivot point is "close" to the 
same height as the  inner point, you can swing the jack handle back and forth 
to align the inner rod  end with the mounting bracket, and the bolt that 
goes through it. As you move  the floor jack handle toward the center of the 
car, the rod end of the strut rod  should move in toward the differential. Be 
Very Very careful about going under  the car to insert the bolt, but moving 
the jack left and right should align the  rod end with the bracket, and let 
the bolt slide through. Be careful under  there!  - Seth Emerson