Top ball joints.. which ones?

[TVR Beaver]

Fitted some ball joints in March 2009 and covered say 4K since... I'm now doing up the arms and putting Powerflex bush units in and just had a quick look to see all was fine... The top ones came with a plastic type cover (not rubber like the bottoms)... and both the things have split so you can see right up inside them... All the grease is still there but I need to change them...
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Question is.. does the QSJ1004S unit fit okay?.. I can get them local.. or has there been problems with head size on these?...
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I got the last ones from TVR Supplies but I think he's gone as the web site does not work... I'll try call tomorrow see if they still exist..
Must say, I'm questioning how good the lower ones are now!!

[TVR Beaver]

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Here is the pic.. if you have the same check em.....

[ray von]

TVR Beaver said:

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Question is.. does the QSJ1004S unit fit okay?.. I can get them local.. or has there been problems with head size on these?...

They fitted on my Chim. I fitted TVR supplies ones on the Griff iirc they were MOOG (Federal Mogul) so a recognised name and not some cheapo crap

[spend]

I was quite gob-smacked this summer when seeing all the Ferodo signs in Chapel-en-le-Froth had been replaced with Fed-Mog

[LordGrover]

Can't answer the question, but get the right ones. My (lower) BJs were not right: click.

[chris52]

Hi John the Quinton and Hazel one will fit but not without a little messing around because the ball head is slightly to big and needs the end of the wishbone grinding back a bit to allow the geo to be set, this does not affect the strength of the wishbone and to be fair the Q&H part is quality but just depends if you can bring yourself to setting about the wishbone with a grinder IIRC its about 2mm of the end

Chris

[chris52]

Just checked with the local parts supplier and I can get either the Q&H or a Delphi equivelent both priced at £12.42 plus VAT each.
so a big saving on the TVr list price.
Chris

[TVR Beaver]

LordGrover said:

Can't answer the question, but get the right ones. My (lower) BJs were not right: click.

Indeed... seen this before so asked the question on PH's if the supplier was known and the goods were okay... I think TVR Supplies (was it Steve) was considered okay so I went ahead and bought them... Don't think there is anything wrong with the ball joints (although I'm thinking of the bottom one now!!) just the nasty plastic cover instead of the rubber...
I've had a bottom ball joint come off before so that does tend to make you a tad sensitive to where you get them.... That said, paying twice the local factor rate does not guarantee....

[TVR Beaver]

chris52 said:

Just checked with the local parts supplier and I can get either the Q&H or a Delphi equivelent both priced at £12.42 plus VAT each.
so a big saving on the TVr list price.
Chris

Is the Delphi a smaller head?

The arms are off so it's the right time to do it!!

[TVR Beaver]

spend said:

I was quite gob-smacked this summer when seeing all the Ferodo signs in Chapel-en-le-Froth had been replaced with Fed-Mog

I went to that site a few times when they made parts for Lucas Aerospace.. they made the small brake shoes for a flap actuation system we made... great site.. massive... But yes, things change... most will be overseas now I'm sure....

[chris52]

TVR Beaver said:

chris52 said:

Just checked with the local parts supplier and I can get either the Q&H or a Delphi equivelent both priced at £12.42 plus VAT each.
so a big saving on the TVr list price.
Chris

Is the Delphi a smaller head?

The arms are off so it's the right time to do it!!

Don't know mate never had one but if you want I will get one and see. No big deal if its wrong as I can send it back.
Chris

[TVR Beaver]

chris52 said:

TVR Beaver said:

chris52 said:

Just checked with the local parts supplier and I can get either the Q&H or a Delphi equivelent both priced at £12.42 plus VAT each.
so a big saving on the TVr list price.
Chris

Is the Delphi a smaller head?

The arms are off so it's the right time to do it!!

Don't know mate never had one but if you want I will get one and see. No big deal if its wrong as I can send it back.
Chris

I'm not sure which supplier out of the two are the best quality?... I think I did file the arme last time to fit the old ones so may alread be okay?... Also... I wonder why there is a 6mm spacer one side on these things... Looks to me like they had a unit that filled the gap at one time.. then may be they were reduced so they fitted a spacer to one side... Bit this in theory moves the designed top location 3mm out of position?.. may also be best to get two 3mm spacers to replace the one?.. .Think Clevor Trevor does them but that said.. they are easy to make...
I'll give you a call later.... Cheers... John

http://www.clever-trevor.net/part/60/upper-ball-jo...

Look.. these things??

Edited by TVR Beaver on Monday 29th November 17:07

[spend]

The spacers are to set the inclination of the wheel correctly John (see caster & KPI). You could make wishbones pre-set for it but the ability to shim affords some level of adjustment ~ however they all seem to be set fully (large caster angle) as std

[TVR Beaver]

spend said:

The spacers are to set the inclination of the wheel correctly John (see caster & KPI). You could make wishbones pre-set for it but the ability to shim affords some level of adjustment ~ however they all seem to be set fully (large caster angle) as std

Okay.. so what if mine was set with the 6mm spacer... and then I changed them to 3mm either side... what would it change to the way the car handled?.. would it turn in quicker or what?... or would I even tell the differance??

[TVR Beaver]

Quinny said:

Or you can make your own spacers

I hope they are not Aluminium spacers.. Ali and steel and water etc... nice battery... arms gone in no time

[TVR Beaver]

Mmmm.. may be the way to go then.. could even go 4mm / 2mm... will see if I can get some lazer cut (thats coz I'm a lazey git myself)

[TVR Beaver]

So... one up side of only being on for 3K.. they come off easy... in fact, a bit too easy in my mind...
here ya go... can just make out MOOG on them.. so will call them tomoro and see what they say... I'm sure its 'not suitable for this application'... but worth a try..



I'm sure it's re-usable.. tight as chuff.. wonder if you can just get a new rubber bit? mind you although i didn't have to hammer it much.. not sure I'd trust it...

[spend]

You are just locating the top axis ~ if the BJ outer dimensions are different you can mill / space to put it in the right place. So I'd say it depends very much on the actual Ball Joints. Varying the KPI seems to be reasonably happy as long as you increase it - but I've only tried small amounts within the limited adjustment I have & it also looked like it made my rack geometry a little better. Hence I'd say err on the side of pushing the axis backwards rather than forward, but equal on each side seems to be absolutely essential.

This is certainly an area where you could introduce chassis based bump steer & a reluctance to drive in a straight line, you wonder if some of these folks who complain of their cars trying to 'have them off' have screwed it up badly? - incorrect spacers for BJs, spacers at wrong side, mismatched side-side???

[ray von]

Been through this spacer stuff before and fwiw on MY Chim and Griff there was an 8mm spacer so don't know where the 6mm comes from. Ask Quinny with his three-penny bit shaped ones he should know

[TVR Beaver]

Yes.. your right.. they are 8mm and not 6mm... Had assumed 6mm as Clever Trev sell's 3mm spacers to centralise the ball joint... Mmmm that's not going to work then....
So may be a 2mm and a 6mm one....

Dave.. My spacer was fitted at the front (I think.. best check)... so you can only move it forward not back??