You guys are funny. It's why I like this place.
Once you get the tie-rod out of the impact zone I don't see why you need the hassle of heims. The rod rocks back and forth only slightly so you do not need much for angular misalignment. Seems like the issue may be less about the tie-rod ends and more about placement (as in, I wonder how heims would have fared on the tie rod on your rig in the same mounting position).
The idea of the heim I like. How most people use them, I don't. I see them in single-shear on every other application other than suspension links when I browse around the internet. No thanks. I also do not like that they are not greasable, everywhere you need to use misalignment washers to use them which creates opportunity for dirt and grit to get in the race, the shanks are really short so you do not get much adjustment room on the link, and the mounting method is not self locating (no tapered bolt).
Not saying they are bad, just not for me right now. Then again, I only run 12" shocks up front so I do not have the flex and have portals so my steering is out the weeds even running the tie-rods on the knuckles.
When swapping to heims on my steering, this is what I considered.
The angle of misalignment is practically the same on a 3/4 ton GM TRE ( the ones everyone calls 1-ton, has 7/8-18 shank) as it is on a commercially available heim with 3/4 bolt with misalignment spacers.
Both are ~35 degrees total misalignment.
Yes heims can't be greased.
The boots never stay on TREs longer than a few months and the grease attracts and holds dirt. Tolerance on heims keeps a lot of big particles out, and can easily lube the heim with cheap spray lubricant like wd-40 if desired.
I mounted both ends of my drag link heim in double shear. So even if the heim comes apart, some type of mechanical linkage still exists.
My tie rod is mounted in single shear, but with large safety misalignment washers. Even if the heim comes apart, the shank will remain attached to the steering arm. This is why I purchased the steering heim set from Barnes, just to get the additional safety washers.
As far as the tie rod rolling, I took polyurethane shock bushing and cut them in half, then compressed them on either side of the heim, between te safety misalignment and the heim body, to limit the misalignment and I keep it from flopping. Works great, and cheap & easy to keep spares.
Tre's are ok, they've been on my 60 steering since 2008.
My fear is that if one is to come apart, the shank and body of the end can come off the tapered pin, with no extra safety.
I like the added insurance of running heims for safety alone.
Just my .02.
