Rod End Bearings: What Are They?

Rod end bearings find application in assemblies where they will support misalignment, such as within automotive and aerospace industries alike. Nevertheless, they are also quite common in a wide variety of industrial machinery. With their popularity, it can be beneficial to have a better understanding of how such bearings are designed and how they function, ensuring that you always find the best possible solutions for your needs.

The rod end of the assembly is considered a joint, and it will permit rotational freedom across three axes while ensuring that a fixed point of contact between two items is upheld. The rod ends themselves can be used to connect a number of mechanically controlled tie rods, often being used for both steering links and control rods. By having the rod end’s center of rotation placed on the axis of both shafts, consistent point-to-point contact may be established and upheld. In situations where there is a need for a change in the rotational axis of rotary motion, rod end joints are highly beneficial with their ability to accommodate various forms of misalignment that may deter operations and performance.

Like many types of hardware, rod end bearings come in gendered forms, and it is important to have a basic understanding of the differences between each before making a purchasing decision. Generally, the difference between each comes down to the threading present on the bearing, male types feature external threading while female rod end bearings have internal threading. While male rod end bearings find use in various applications, female rod end bearings serve more specialized applications as a result of their feature that allows the placement of parts to be fine tuned to a further degree. An example of this is the use of female rod end bearings in helicopter rotor blade assemblies, the bearing allowing for the direction of blades to be adjusted with high precision.

Depending on the particular need, both male and female rod end bearings may also widely vary in their exact dimensions and features, the choice often depending on the needs of an application. For example, if one intends to place the bearing within a space that contains corrosive materials, a chemical-resistant ball joint rod end bearing may be the best choice with its nylon or aluminum external housing that withstands fuel, weak acids, and other corrosive materials. In other instances, rod end bearings may be purchased with thrust-ratings, ultra-precision features, mil-spec standardization, oil embedding, and much more. Once you have taken the time to explore your options and have an idea of what you need, let the experts at ASAP Components help you secure all you require with ample time and cost savings for your benefit.

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• tony adams
• Posted on November 21, 2022
bearings