Track rod end and ball joint parts - poor fit ?

[taylormj4]

Fitted new lower ball joint, ARB link and track rod end to the front OS this weekend. However, the ball joint and track rod end didn't seem quite the same dimensions as those I removed.

The track rod end was about 8mm longer than the one I removed, which meant marking the rod to keep the tracking correct was a waste of time. I had to wind it in to get it close by eye and will now get it checked (service next weekend).

The ball joint innermost holes didn't quite line up with the wishbone. The bolt had to be tapped in. Also the base of the ball joint was slightly thicker, which means the existing innermost bolt wasn't long enough. It is only on half of the nut threads. The other two bolts are fine. The flange/base of the joint didn't seem to sit well against the wishbone either, making it tilt slightly but I guess that's not too critical with it being a ball joint. The wishbone is pretty new by the way and still in very good condition.
Anyone else found this ?

[Adrian@]

Where were the parts sourced from? neither of the these issues sound correct.
Adrian@

[phillpot]

taylormj4 said:

The track rod end was about 8mm longer than the one I removed

The flange/base of the joint didn't seem to sit well against the wishbone either, making it tilt slightly but I guess that's not too critical

Guess suppliers are sourcing these from various manufacturers ( Quinton Hazell, First Line etc.) so there will be non critical differences?

Personally I wouldn't be at all happy with that joint not sitting flat, square and firmly against the wishbone, time to get the file out !

[Adrian@]

IF you look OE bottom ball joints they are machined to drop into the wishbone.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Monday 27th February 00:11

[MADMAX2]

taylormj4 said:

Fitted new lower ball joint, ARB link and track rod end to the front OS this weekend. However, the ball joint and track rod end didn't seem quite the same dimensions as those I removed.

The track rod end was about 8mm longer than the one I removed, which meant marking the rod to keep the tracking correct was a waste of time. I had to wind it in to get it close by eye and will now get it checked (service next weekend).

The ball joint innermost holes didn't quite line up with the wishbone. The bolt had to be tapped in. Also the base of the ball joint was slightly thicker, which means the existing innermost bolt wasn't long enough. It is only on half of the nut threads. The other two bolts are fine. The flange/base of the joint didn't seem to sit well against the wishbone either, making it tilt slightly but I guess that's not too critical with it being a ball joint. The wishbone is pretty new by the way and still in very good condition.
Anyone else found this ?

i fitted arb links track rod ends and lower ball joint on mine last weekend i didnt have a problem i sourced my parts from TVR Power sounds like you are sourcing spurious parts

[TJC46]

Adrian@ said:

IF you look OE bottom ball joints they are machined to drop into the wishbone.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Monday 27th February 00:11

This Post some pics up of the bottom ball joint, as what you describe does not sound right. The track rod ends should be fine just get the tracking done once fitted.

[taylormj4]

Hi,
Thanks for the responses.
I bought all three parts from Racetech. I certainly wouldn't take any chances with these kinds of parts so was looking for quality parts. In fact the ball joint was the most expensive one I found but I understand theirs are the best, exceeding OE spec.

The ball joint did sit/drop into the wishbone main tube and is in there solidly/ It was just that the triangular base of the ball joint sat on the outer two bolt tubes but was several mm higher than the inner one and the inner hole was not perfectly lined up with the hole in the wishbone.

Just called Racetech and spoke for some time to the guy that spec'd the joints (nice to see a supplier who can take the time to assist as well as sell). It seems that my wishbone (sourced and fitted by an independent around 18months ago) may not be quite to spec as this was in a period that TVR ones weren't available so this is probably the best available at the time. It seems wishbones vary a little in dimensions.

The car is going for a service next weekend so I'll get their opinion on it just to be on the safe side.

Edited by taylormj4 on Monday 27th February 12:47

Edited by taylormj4 on Monday 27th February 12:48

[dickythediver]

Hi, What a coincidence, I had just picked up my wishbones from the powder coaters and was reading your thread when I got a delivery from Racetech of the same bits. So I have just done a trial fit. After removing a couple of mm of paint from the ball joint hole the bottom ball joint dropped in to the top of the bolt holes, the inside bolt as you say does not exactly line up so will require a round file. Not too happy with that especially as I was told they were made specially. But still thats life. The track rod end as you say is about 5mm longer than original which will give my garage something to do when they line it all up, cant make it too easy for them!! Good luck sounds like we are both on the same track.

[taylormj4]

dickythediver said:

......Good luck sounds like we are both on the same track.

Same track, not the right track....about 5 degree toe-out probably but nothing a tracking alignment can't resolve.

Thanks though Dicky, good to know you found the same with the ball joint though. At least my wishbone isn't warped or anything. Racetech suggested putting a washer between the balljoint flange and the top of the wishbone tube, although he did say this wasn't ideal.
You are thinking of filing the wishbone or the ball joint holes?
Racetech chap said they used wishbones off his old Chimaera 4.3 as the pattern. It seems later/non-TVR wishbones weren't quite to the same pattern.

The existing bolts that hold the ball joint in had been cut off (badly) so that they only just cleared the nuts. Why would this be necessary ?

[BIGMIKE1]

I'm at the same stage and hadn't tried fitting the ball joints till I read this! Anyway just tried the drivers side one and although it was tight getting the ball joint to sit in the wishbone and tight getting the bolts through (I think this was all due to the amount of por15!) they fit perfect and are sat on all three mounting points. Just hope passenger side is the same.
Forgot to say I also bought all my ball joints and track rod ends from Race tech direct.

Edited by BIGMIKE1 on Monday 27th February 20:06

[quattrophenia]

"The track rod end was about 8mm longer than the one I removed, which meant marking the rod to keep the tracking correct was a waste of time. I had to wind it in to get it close by eye and will now get it checked (service next weekend)."

I got my rod ends from a main TVR specialist and replaced them last year. Counted the turns off and back on, put the wheels on and was totally toe out. Took the wheels off again and gave them a further 3 turns on each side and that took it to within a few mm's of where they ought to be.
I also recently watched the TVR S2 on wheeler deelers on TV, and Ed China was complaining that the new rod ends he bought were longer than the originals and required a few extra turns.
Make sure you get the tracking done if not the full geo set-up.

[dickythediver]

Hi Matt, Have now filed out the ball joint bolt hole and the bolt now fits O.K.

[taylormj4]

dickythediver said:

Hi Matt, Have now filed out the ball joint bolt hole and the bolt now fits O.K.

Nice one. Does the triangular base of the ball joint sit squarely on all three bolt tubes or is there a gap between ball joint base and the inner tube like on mine ?

[dickythediver]

Hi Matt, Sorry for delay in reply but got sidetracked on other projects. Have just cleaned the paint out of the hole and the ball joint sits perfectly on top of the tubes. After filling out the back bolt hole all bolts fit O.K.

[taylormj4]

The car is being serviced at the moment and they have just advised that the camber is out on this wheel, partially due to the ball joint being at the wrong angle to the lower wishbone. Frustrating situation where, if I get the car back to do the work I'll lose the benefit of the free 4-wheel alignment check with the service. So may as well get them to do it, which will probably cost the same as if I'd got them to do the job in the first place. Pants, lol.