Materials & Why We Use Them

Housings

4140 Chromoly Steel: High yield strength and excellent fatigue resistance for heavy loads, harsh impacts, and long service life. Ideal for suspension and steering where safety margin matters.

7075-T6 Aluminium: Near-steel strength-to-weight with significant mass savings. Anodising improves wear and corrosion resistance and reduces galling—perfect for weight-critical builds.

Spherical Bearing Ball/Race

52100 Bearing Steel (Ball): Very hard, wear-resistant race surface that maintains tight running clearance under load. Delivers long life and consistent articulation.

440C Stainless (Race): Similar hardness with superior corrosion resistance for coastal, wet, or chemically aggressive environments.

Liner

Bonded PTFE/fibre composite: Self-lubricating, low-friction interface that eliminates routine greasing, controls clearance (preload), and damps vibration. Reduces stick-slip and maintains smooth motion over time.

Coatings & Finishes

Zinc-nickel / phosphate (steel) & anodise (aluminium): Added protection against corrosion and fretting, cleaner assembly, and improved long-term appearance.

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What this means for you

Strength where it counts: Heat-treated alloys and bearing steels carry high loads with reliable fatigue performance.

Less maintenance: PTFE liners provide smooth, quiet motion without routine greasing.

Lighter assemblies: 7075-T6 components trim weight without giving up stiffness.

Built for your environment: Stainless options and protective finishes resist rust in wet, salty, or chemical exposure.

Tight, consistent feel: Hardened races and preloaded liners hold geometry under load for precise control.

 

Destructive testing: This video shows our destructive tensile test procedure for Rod End Products. Using a calibrated hydraulic rig, each sample is loaded steadily past its published working load until structural failure. We capture peak load, displacement, and failure mode to validate safety factors and manufacturing consistency across batches. The test demonstrates how our PTFE-lined spherical bearing and precision-machined housing perform under extreme, real-world–style abuse—far beyond what you’ll see in service—so you can specify with confidence.

Check out our video: