On the ends of my stock tire carrier, similar to heim joints but without the threads. They've also got some rubber around em.



I'm also not sure how to replace them. It loos like they slid em in and then bent the tube around em...

 

That's a spherical bushing, meant to allow articulation as well as dampening vibration (the spherical metal bit allows articulation, the rubber bit dampens vibration.)

You'd probably have to replace the whole thing - it's usually done just as you said (install bushing, deform metal to retain.) Might be time to redesign, using a serviceable part!

Where in San Jose, anyhow? I'm on Jarvis, just off of Hillsdale.

 

South campbell just above 85. Hmmm so much for just painting then. With the way the whole thing mounts and swings it seems like it needs that type. I could cut the flat parts out and weld in a nut plug to take some heims. I can't visualize the actual movement of the swing to think of anything else.

 

Probably how I'd do it. If you can find something strong enough, using a turnbuckle will make final adjustment easier, since you won't have to unbolt the thing to turn the joint.

However, if you can't find a decent turnbuckle and if you can remove the studs (if the studs are OEM,) I'd replaced the studs with bolts & bnuts and that will also make adjustment easier (since you can simply remove the bolt and adjust.)

If you have a choice, I suggest using a Heim with a fine thread on its stud - but I don't recall what OSH carries (and I don't bother with Home Depot for stuff like this.) For better availability, if you can wait a bit, I'd suggest McMaster-Carr or MSC Direct for sourcing Heims. You may be able to try Applied Materials, but I don't recall what they'd carry offhand (and I'd have to find my catalogue...) Also, you can try aircraft hobbyist/kitbuild suppliers, as Heims are often used for aircraft control linkages and the like. Aircraft Spruce & Supply and Wicks Aircraft Supply are my favourites - if you can tell me more specifically what you're looking for, I can see where you can find it. (I have catalogues, just takes time to pillage through them.)