I am currently getting ready to build my own C-pillar brace and triangulation brace as well. I need some input on my idea. If I were to use a 1" maybe 1.25" thick wall aluminum tubing, would it be strong/stable enough if I just pretty much stuck a spherical rod end insde the tube, and bracket it all up and use the nuts on the ends to adjust(push) the tube? Or would I be better off to go one size higher on the rod end and just put threads inside the tube itself? Sorry about the grammar

 

C'mon folks, good bad or indifferent?! I could also weld threaded inserts into the tube as well, but would the strength but that much more significant for the extra work?