I have area washers between the bolt head and the rod end bearing at some
locations, but not others.  The gear side brace, for example, does have a
washer (to capture the ball if it pops out) but control rods and flap
pushrods do not.

I probably oughta have some means to retain the rod end bearing (like an area
washer) in case the ball pops out, eh?  But is this necessary in all cases or
merely the highly loaded ones?  An elevator pushrod must be loaded far less
than a landing gear brace, but I'd much rather land with a dangling gear than
with a dangling elevator.

What say you A&P's?  What is standard on certified airplanes?

- Rob Wolf