Ball Joints, Good ones and Bad ones

[Rufus Roughcut]

Hi all,

with reference to this thread

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I thought I'd post a proper 'Ball Joint' thread in the Cerbera section...
Would anyone search for 'ball joints' in the spotted thread...well maybe one or two

As some of you know I recently had a Ball Joint let go, luckily for me and others, I was traveling at no more than 10mph.......if it had happened 2mins earlier on the M40 it could have been a whole different story...I shudder to think!


Armed with info from the equivalent parts thread (Many thanks to everyone who has contributed) I'd purchased said track rod ends, upper and lower ball joints from a major parts retailer.


Unknown to me at the time (No excuses) was the fact that TVR's tend to require a more robust component than the run of the mill stuff.

It has come to light that this type of failure is not uncommon (4 off to my knowledge) and the list seems to be steadily growing, therefore I would recommend when replacing upper and lower ball joints you only use items manufactured by Lemforder (O.E. TVR items).

Here are a couple of pic's from the equivalent parts thread (Thanks TT Tim)





You can see the rusty one has a 'shoulder' that locates in a recess in the lower wishbone.

the new one doesn't!


Here's a couple of pics of the genuine article





and side by side with the cheap and not so cheerful...




Luckily for me there was no damage to the body and only a slight graze to the wheel.





Mark

[Rufus Roughcut]

Hi Alan,

Here for the top ball joint

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Saab_900_2.0_198...

and here for the lower

http://www.sngbarratt.com/catalogue/parts/show.asp...

bear in mind the lower joint doesn't come with a Nut, I spoke with them on the phone and they sent two FOC next day delivery.....or you could use your existing ones

[Rufus Roughcut]

Assuming the equilavent parts thread is correct then yes

I did a search for:

Saab
99 74-84
90 84-85
900 79-

here is the link for the Saab 90, it uses part number 617880135

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Saab_90_2.0_1985...

here for the 99, the same part number

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Saab_99_2.0_1982...

and here for the 900, same part number

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Saab_900_2.0_198...

It would appear they all use the same part number.

I think I know where you're coming from though the photo in the TVR parts manual looks the same as the cheap after market ones

[Rufus Roughcut]

lotusandy said:

I need to replace both upper & lower joints on my Chim at some point, I am happy that the uppers are the same as discussed here, could anyone confirm that the Chims use the Jag lowers please?

Ta Andy

I must confess to knowing diddly squat about the Chim, having looked at the pics on this site

http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

I would say they are different.

[Rufus Roughcut]

Barkychoc said:

thread above said:

and side by side with the cheap and not so cheerful...

The one on the left is identical to the one I bought for my V8S - as a genuine saab part.

The one on the right is identical to the one that came off my V8S both sides - and I'm pretty sure they are original ones.

The originals on the V8S could not have beem Lemforder as I had to file the upper wishbone to make them fit back into the original geometry position - the casting around the balljoint is too fat for it to slide in the wishbone far enough.

Edited by Barkychoc on Friday 9th July 17:23

I'd read your post regarding the upper ball joint whilst doing some research, you felt the 'one on the left' was of better quality and moved more easily.

The Cerb uses spacers either side of the joint, hence no filing of the wishbone or joint is needed.

[Rufus Roughcut]

mattrosersv said:

Either my memory is scr3wed or the Chim lower BJs are off a Lada.... I have both Cerb and Chim so not simply taking the p1ss!

You maybe right, although I'd read somewhere about the articulation not allowing full suspension travel.

My knowledge is restricted to the Cerb at the mo.

[Rufus Roughcut]

jammy_basturd said:

Thanks for this post, was literally just in the process of renewing the lower balljoints on mine. Decided to do the sensible thing and buy some proper Lemforder ones despite the other ones I bought being brand new. Glad I did because the ones I bought looked more flimsy that yours in the pictures above!

You're welcome,

I didn't want this thread to sound alarmist, I just thought all the DIYers should be aware of the potential pit falls of using substandard parts.

If the info saves just one person's grief I'll be happy.

Edited by Rufus Roughcut on Sunday 11th July 10:22

[Rufus Roughcut]

Barkychoc said:

Have there been issues with top balljoints breaking? I thought it was the bottom ones that were more of an issue.

I haven't heard of a top ball joint failing, just thought it belt and braces

[Rufus Roughcut]

Barkychoc said:

I would be interested in knowing what make that one is in the right - as that would be the one needed on an S to avoid filing the wishbone.

You are most welcome to have the two I've taken off my car, to compare/modify use ??

You have a PM

[Rufus Roughcut]

Hi Paul, sorry I would have replied earlier except I'm on holiday with intermittent internet.
Yep, you are correct, they are off a Jag. Only thing to note iirc is the boot when left on the ball joint won't go through the hole in the mounting, I had to remove the boot first, no big deal.