Rod end
RBC Bearings

The first integral rod end was invented by an RBC division named Heim Bearings. The rod end is also referred to as the Heim Joint named after the inventor Lewis Heim who founded the Heim Bearing Company. While spherical plain bearings offer misalignment capability in a fixed housing position; rod ends offer ease in mounting and adjustment of position in installations such as mechanisms, linkages, and control rods. Rod ends also provide a compact, lightweight, economical design alternative to a conventional housing installation. Today, rod ends, or Heim joints, can be found throughout industry in aircraft, helicopters, jet engines, military vehicles, submarines and surface ships, transportation equipment, agricultural and recreational vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, material handling, and fluid power applications.

Heim Bearings Company offers the industry’s widest selection of rod end types and sizes. Our product range includes Heim rod ends with brass race inserts in standard, precision and high capacity designs; high strength two piece designs; self-lubricating rod ends with engineered thermoplastic races or high performance Teflon® liners, military standard rod ends for the ultimate in rod end performance, ball bearing rod ends which have extremely low friction and misalignment capability, and elastomeric bearing rod ends that reduce vibration and noise in installations. Heim rod ends are also available with a variety of platings, coatings and materials, and with a wide range of optional features such as lubrication fittings, left hand threads, and keyway slots. Rod ends are available in both inch and metric sizes.