Quote Originally Posted by Robinhood4x4 View Post
Yeah, but you have to remember than normally they're never loaded in bending like that. They're usually a 2 force member, meaning they only see tension and compression and things are way strong in tension and compression. For example, did you know a single 1/4" grade 8 bolt can easily lift our trucks in the air. Toyota didn't exactly design those links to take the loads we subject them to.
Agreed, they usually are not, it just still seems really flimsy to me.

Quote Originally Posted by Robinhood4x4 View Post
Just doing some quick calculations based on the picture and assuming the round stock is 1" OD (which I think it's actually bigger than 1"), .125" wall, and mild steel, those things can each hold 10,000lbs in tension or compression.
You are right on the measurements.