Front ball joint
Discussion
What's the score with the upper ball joints that are advertised where you need a spacer either side instead of just the one at the front?
Is it a case of these joints having a large bulbous head (oh dear), and this is to prevent fouling on the wish bone?
Or is it more complicated than that?
Is it a case of these joints having a large bulbous head (oh dear), and this is to prevent fouling on the wish bone?
Or is it more complicated than that?
ray_von said:
What's the score with the upper ball joints that are advertised where you need a spacer either side instead of just the one at the front?
Is it a case of these joints having a large bulbous head (oh dear), and this is to prevent fouling on the wish bone?
Or is it more complicated than that?
The ones i got were the same as the ones already on the car and they only had the one spacer towards the front of the car.Is it a case of these joints having a large bulbous head (oh dear), and this is to prevent fouling on the wish bone?
Or is it more complicated than that?
and they had the bulbous head you talk of....Some of the upper ball joints have a bulbous head that is too large, and won't allow the ball joint to slide inwards (toward the centreline of the car) far enough to set the camber correctly. However, I have found that this can be overcome with a small amount of grinding. As for having a spacer both sides, I would be very careful if the car originally only had the one thick spacer fitted to the front of the ball joint. Using a different spacer arrangement will alter the castor setting, which has an effect on self-centring and steering feel.
ray_von said:
What's the score with the upper ball joints that are advertised where you need a spacer either side instead of just the one at the front?
Is it a case of these joints having a large bulbous head (oh dear), and this is to prevent fouling on the wish bone?
Or is it more complicated than that?
Who says it needs one either side?Is it a case of these joints having a large bulbous head (oh dear), and this is to prevent fouling on the wish bone?
Or is it more complicated than that?
Are you sure they dont just both go at the front?
The spacers set the castor, so personally I would fit them both at the front, as long as the dimensions of the b/joint are the same as the original..
Could be entirely mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I saw somewhere that earlier cars had the thin spacer either side arrangement, and later cars the single thicker spacer. What year is your car?
With regard to your other question, if you changed both, then yes, the wheel alignment would be the same both sides, but they could both be wrong. Altering the castor will cause a noticeable change when you're driving. Unless you're sure of what you're doing, use the single spacer. The correct ball joints are not difficult to find.
With regard to your other question, if you changed both, then yes, the wheel alignment would be the same both sides, but they could both be wrong. Altering the castor will cause a noticeable change when you're driving. Unless you're sure of what you're doing, use the single spacer. The correct ball joints are not difficult to find.
If this balljoint is made to the same pattern(if it aint i would doubt the quality) theirs no reasom why the castor should change unless the castor was set with a knackered balljoint or you misplaced the spacer/s, highly unlikely,the camber will only need checking because you lose the reference mark when you removed it
I agree with That Daddy, but the OP was originally talking about the 2 thin spacers v 1 thick spacer situation. All I was saying was that changing from one set-up to the other will change the castor, irrespective of the ball joint, as you'll be moving the ball joint's axis further backwards (or forwards) than was originally intended.
That Daddy said:
If this balljoint is made to the same pattern(if it aint i would doubt the quality) theirs no reasom why the castor should change unless the castor was set with a knackered balljoint or you misplaced the spacer/s, highly unlikely,...
The BJ pattern changed ~ castor is set using the spacers hence the BJs must be a different pattern (both approved by TVR! ~ an updated part). Sorry I cant be more specific, but I fitted an alternative different wishbone arrangement, so don't have hands on experience of the parts.Dave
S7Paul said:
I agree with That Daddy, but the OP was originally talking about the 2 thin spacers v 1 thick spacer situation. All I was saying was that changing from one set-up to the other will change the castor, irrespective of the ball joint, as you'll be moving the ball joint's axis further backwards (or forwards) than was originally intended.
Yep, I agree with both of you. After having a look at the set up (and finding out what castor was 
). Anyone buying these ball joints that need one spacer either side when they have just one spacer must surely alter the castor setting. As an aside clevor trevor states. Two 3mm spacer to replace the single 6mm spacer well my spacer is 8mm anywayGassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff