Stainless Steel Rod End
Our stainless steel rod ends are precision and durable for harsh environments. With more than 20 years of experience in serving OEM and industrial brand customers, we support customization of size, thread, and models. All stainless steel heim joints are CNC machined, with high strength, corrosion resistance, and smooth rotation performance, and are trusted by customers in the marine, food processing, and automation industries etc..
What is Stainless Steel Rod End
A stainless steel rod end (also called a rod-end bearing, heim joint, or spherical rod end) is a mechanical linkage component that contains a spherical bearing housed in a threaded body. One side is threaded (male or female) so it can be mounted into a rod or linkage; the spherical bearing allows angular misalignment and pivoting.
Professional Stainless Steel Rod End Manufacturer in China
Profab offers multiple models of ss rod ends like XM/XF, CM/CF, JMX/JFX, SATK/SITK. Each model is designed with specific load capacities and thread types to meet diverse application needs.
We provide high-quality stainless steel rod ends and professional solutions to meet the diverse needs of various industries. Whether it’s standard parts or custom-made components, we offer trusted quality, quick response, and reliable delivery for clients worldwide.
Detailed Specifications
| Material | 304 / 316 Stainless Steel (17-4ph optional) |
| Thread Type | Male & Female, Right-hand / Left-hand, Metric & Inch |
| Size: Bore | 0.19″-2.0″/5mm–50mm, Thread: 10-32 –1 1/4″ / M5–M48 / Custom Sizes |
| Surface | Polished / Passivated / Custom Finishing |
| Feature | High Load Capacity, Corrosion-resistant, Precise Rotation, Long Service Life, Hygienic and Pollution-free |
Different Types of Profab Stainless Steel Rod End Series
Design: Loader Slot
Thread: Male and Female, Left Hand and Right Hand
Race: PTFE Liner
Material: 304 Stainless Housing & 440C Ball (Optional 316 / 17-4PH)
Surface: Custom Finishing Available
Design: 2-Piece Construction
Thread: Male and Female, Left and Right Hand
Race: No Liner
Material: 304 Stainless Housing & 440C Ball (Optional 316 / 17-4PH)
Surface: Custom Finishing Available
Design: 3-Piece Construction
Thread: Male and Female, Left and Right Hand
Race: PTFE Liner
Material: 304 Stainless Housing & 440C Ball (Optional 316 / 17-4PH)
Surface: Custom Finishing Available
Design: 3-Piece Construction
Thread: Male (SATK) and Female (SITK), Left & Right Thread
Race: PTFE Liner
Material: 304/316 Stainless Body & 440C Ball
Surface: Custom Finishing Available
Patch Material
Wide Application of SS Rod Ends
Profab 304/316 stainless steel rod ends are ideally suited for use in automotive suspension connections, hydraulic cylinder connections for industrial machinery, marine deck rigging, and other industries. Tight tolerances are maintained even under dynamic loads.
Their durable construction and self-lubricating bearings reduce the need for equipment maintenance. Profab rod ends are designed for high loads and harsh environments. They provide long-lasting durability and reliability in a variety of applications.
How To Choose The Right SS Rod Ends Bearing For Your Project?
1. Understanding the application environment
- Corrosivity: Whether the environment is humid, has salt spray, or chemicals (e.g. acids, alkalis, disinfectants)
Humid or slightly corrosive environments: 304 stainless steel is usually sufficient.
Salt spray, marine or highly corrosive environments: 316 stainless steel is often chosen for its molybdenum content, which provides greater corrosion resistance.
Food or medical equipment: 316 stainless steel is a common choice given the ease of cleaning.
- Temperature range: Its strength gradually decreases as it approaches its maximum operating temperature.
Stainless steels 304 and 316: Typically maintain excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance over a wide temperature range of **-196°C to +870°C**
440C stainless steels: Typically operate over a temperature range of **-50°C to +250°C
2. Determine the type and size of the load
- Static Load: It refers to the force that the bearing is subjected to when it is at rest or in slow motion. You need to choose a bearing with a high enough Static Load Capacity.
- Dynamic Load: The force exerted on the bearing at high speeds or during frequent movements. You need to consider its dynamic load capacity and fatigue life.
- Direction of force: Whether the force is primarily radial (perpendicular to the axis) or axial (parallel to the axis).
Most rod end bearings are designed to handle radial loads, but some models are also available with axial loading capacity.
3. Choosing the right size and type
- Thread type: Metric thread (M) / Imperial thread (UNF) / female thread (Female) / Male thread (Male)
- Bore diameter: Needs to match the diameter of the mating shaft or pin.
- Ball type:
With self-lubricating liner (e.g. PTFE/Teflon liner): For applications that need to be maintenance free or have light movement.
With lubricatable nozzles: For applications requiring regular maintenance and high loads.
All-metal ball (e.g. 440C stainless steel): For applications requiring high hardness and wear resistance. External lubrication is usually required.
4. Choosing a specialized stainless steel parts manufacturer
- Specialized experience: Choose a supplier with extensive experience in stainless steel processing (e.g. Profab Machine), who better understands the characteristics of stainless steel and the difficulties of processing.
- Customization capability: If your project has non-standard dimensions or special requirements, the supplier’s ability to customize (from prototyping to mass production) will be key.
- Quality control and traceability: Ensure that the supplier has a well-established quality management system and can provide proof of material and product traceability, which is especially important in critical applications.
Why Choose Profab As Your Stainless Steel Rod Ends Supplier ?
At Profab Machine, stainless steel rod ends are more than just simple components, they are manufactured to perform perfectly in specific environments and requirements. Whether it is applications such as motorsports, automation or marine, our rod ends are trusted for their superior strength, durability and corrosion resistance.
Precision Tolerances
Meet demanding assembly requirements. All rod ends are manufactured to exacting critical dimensions, tolerances and thread types (left/right, metric/imperial). This ensures seamless, trouble-free integration into your high-performance system.
Multiple Stainless Steel Grades
Our rod ends are designed for long-term reliable operation in extreme conditions. Premium stainless steel grades are available depending on the environment of your application (high humidity, chemical exposure or salt water).
OEM Project Support
Our team provides full-cycle support, from prototyping to mass production to shipping, we optimize every detail to improve performance, simplify manufacturing, and support standard and custom specifications.
| Thread (mm) | Bore (mm) | Thread (Inch) | Bore (Inch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5*0.8 | 5 | 10-32 | 0.1900 |
| M6*1.0 | 6 | 1/4-28 | 0.1900 |
| M8*1.25 | 8 | 1/4-28 | 0.2500 |
| M10*1.5 | 10 | 5/16-24 | 0.2500 |
| M10*1.25 | 10 | 5/16-24 | 0.3125 |
| M12*1.75 | 12 | 3/8-24 | 0.3125 |
| M12*1.25 | 12 | 3/8-24 | 0.3750 |
| M12*1.5 | 12 | 7/16-20 | 0.3750 |
| M14*2.0 | 14 | 7/16-20 | 0.4375 |
| M14*1.5 | 14 | 1/20-20 | 0.4375 |
| M16*2.0 | 16 | 1/20-20 | 0.5000 |
| M16*1.5 | 16 | 5/8-18 | 0.5000 |
| M18*1.5 | 18 | 3/4-16 | 0.5000 |
| M20*1.5 | 20 | 5/8-18 | 0.6250 |
| M22*1.5 | 22 | 5/8-18 | 12mm |
| M24*2.0 | 24 | 3/4-16 | 0.6250 |
| M30*2.0 | 30 | 3/4-16 | 0.7500 |
| M36*2.0 | 36 | 7/8-14 | 0.7500 |
| M42*2.0 | 42 | 7/8-14 | 0.8750 |
| M48*2.0 | 48 | 1 1/4-12 | 1.0000 |
| Custom | Custom | 1-14 | 1.0000 |
| 1-12 | 1.0000 | ||
| 1 1/4-12 | 1.2500 | ||
| 1 1/2-12 | 1.2500 | ||
| 1 1/2-12 | 1.5000 | ||
| 1 3/4-12 | 1.5000 | ||
| 1 3/4-12 | 1.7500 | ||
| 2-12 | 2.0000 | ||
| Custom | Custom |
FAQ...
What stainless steel grades do you offer? Can you provide Material Test Certificate (MTC)?
We routinely provide 304, 316, 316L and other grades; we can provide Material Test Certificate (MTC) and proof of chemical composition upon request.
How to choose the right model according to the load and working condition?
Please provide the maximum static/dynamic load, mounting geometry (swing angle), shaft diameter and frequency of use, and we will recommend a model or give calibration suggestions based on the load table and fatigue data.
Are there low maintenance versions with self-lubricating or polymer bushings?
Yes. For applications requiring low friction or low maintenance, we offer variants with polymer bushings or self-lubricating liners to reduce the frequency of lubrication maintenance.
