LuminaPower92 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Ken had told me that there was a place manufacturing these. Im looking for the eyebolt that sits on top of the cylinder for the top. It screws onto the end of the cylinder. Yes, I know you can purchase the whole thing, but im not going to replace the cylinder, if it still works. I had gotten some from the yard this weekend from a cavalier z24, however the inside diameter of the machined bolt part is too small. If anyone can point me in the right direction i would be greatly happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 (edited) I had to replace one last year...bought them from Summit Racing, because I couldn't find OEM..absolutely NO issues, and they appear stronger than stock. Ken had told me that there was a place manufacturing these. Im looking for the eyebolt that sits on top of the cylinder for the top. It screws onto the end of the cylinder. Yes, I know you can purchase the whole thing, but im not going to replace the cylinder, if it still works. I had gotten some from the yard this weekend from a cavalier z24, however the inside diameter of the machined bolt part is too small. If anyone can point me in the right direction i would be greatly happy. Edited June 21, 2012 by Galaxie500XL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Try this link...it's been almost a year and a half since I replaced it...it's called a heim joint. http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/49570-Heim-joint-rod-end-bearing-removal-on-hydraulic-rams-on-Convertible Summit Part# SUM=MSF6 3/8-24 female thread, 3/8 hole for top bolt, $4.88 each (last year) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-MSF6/ That part actually looks really nice. Do these eye bolts typically fail on these cars? If so what goes wrong on them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Most failures I've seen come from them loosening, and exposing too much thread on the ram...but, since the factory one is simply a hole that a plastic bushing sits in, with the bolt running through it, I'd say side loads are pretty significant. I chose those, because with a spherical insert, the top bolt is free to move slightly relative to the rod end, without putting undue stress on either. I've meant to put the second one on the passenger side rod, but haven't yet...worst case, I have a spare heim joint for when another fails. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-MSF6/ That part actually looks really nice. Do these eye bolts typically fail on these cars? If so what goes wrong on them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Basically, what happened to mine was once the threads backed off, the side loads sheared the eye part off even with the top of the ram. It was UGLY getting the old threaded piece off without damaging the ram. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 I can imagine you wouldn't want to damage those threads as you remove the old piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Very true. I used vice grips, and wrapped an old chamois around the rod, to keep from scarring the rod. I used Locktite (blue) on the threads to keep them from loosening over time. The spherical end can handle a misalignment of as much as 19 degrees, which isn't likely where it's being used, but way better than a flat "eye" that the bolt originally ran through. The heim joint was rated at 4,900 pounds, way more than the load they should see raising and lowering the top--unless I raise it while going down the highway... I can imagine you wouldn't want to damage those threads as you remove the old piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminaPower92 Posted June 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Thanks all, Ill have to check those out. I ended getting one from someone on the forum, but ill be out for find some backups. Also, ever have one side of the top sit a little higher then the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojeeka Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 This thread is awesome. Fixed my top for a few dollars. I thought for sure I was going to have to spend a few hundred to fix it. I bought the heim joints from Summit as recommended. A few things to note about the problem and the fix... My top popped one day while putting it up near the end of the Summer or early Fall last year. After searching and reading from this forum I didn't understand what to look for at first. I kept looking in the trunk and looking down into the sides where the back window is but couldn't figure out the problem. I was looking way down into the sides near the back window. I didn't realize it was right there easy to see if you know what to look for. Then a few days ago I started looking for the problem again since it is getting nice out. I finally noticed this rod near the back window and i grabbed it and it started swinging. I noticed on the end of the rod was a broken piece that was screwed on it. I looked to the other side and saw how it was attached. Then I realized what was going on. I ordered the heim joint from Summit. I actually ordered 4 of them but problem won't need more than 2 because they seem like the new ones will last. First thing I screwed on the new heim joint and the rod was way too high. I took off the new heim joint and compared it to the old part and it was the same length. So I tried to put the top partially down so I could get a different angle that maybe fit better and realized that wasn't getting me anywhere. So I put the top back up. The rod was missing! Then I felt it way down in the side under the rear window but it wouldn't pull up. I started to get a little worried. I realized the rod got turned up-side-down. I put the top down some, grabbed the rod and turned it back around. Luckily that was uneventful. I put the heim joint back on and it was still way too long. I started worrying again. Then I started turning the rod clockwise for a long time and it started getting closer to where it would go into place. I got it in position and put the bolt in. Actually it isn't 100% complete. The nut fell into the side of the car. I knew that was going to happen but I was too much of a hurry to put something there to catch it before working on it. So for now I have the bolt in there but no nut. But the top works like a charm. I plan on getting a nut within the next couple days. And I replaced the other side that wasn't broken and it went pretty smooth. Oh, yeah, the bolt is 1/2" and the nut on the other side is too. So i had an open end wrench 1/2" on the nut which was kind of hard to get on there and hold because of where it was. And used a 1/2" socket with ratchet on the bolt. Hopefully that helps someone know what to look for and how to fix the problem. Galaxie500XL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 It's been nearly 4 years now since I put that heim joint in mine, and it still works great. Looks like a permanent fix. Thanks for the info! EDIT: Got my years confused. It's been nearly 5 years, and in warm weather, the top is almost always down. I'd say after several hundred, if not a few thousand cycles, this is one fix that lasts. rich_e777 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojeeka Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 It's been nearly 4 years now since I put that heim joint in mine, and it still works great. Looks like a permanent fix. Thanks for the info! EDIT: Got my years confused. It's been nearly 5 years, and in warm weather, the top is almost always down. I'd say after several hundred, if not a few thousand cycles, this is one fix that lasts. No. Thank you for the info! BTW, if anyone else loses their nut like I did... M8 1.25 fits on the original bolt that goes into the heim joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loudawg11 Posted July 28, 2016 Report Share Posted July 28, 2016 Thanks for the part # at Summit SUM-MSF6. I went to the Summit Racing Location in Ohio with the broken cylinder end and we matched up the part from their stock of ends and the posted part number from above IS the one that fits perfect. Thanks again for the info. SUM-MSF6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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