Ball Joints

[Tracy C.]

Re: Ball Joints

Yes. They judged great. Just make sure they are riveted in place. One other good thing. Ball joints are considered a safety item and as such are no longer judged as they used to be, but installation still is critical. No bolts or screws.

Kurt, I believe the CDCIF judging criteria still applies to ball joints. Like Patrick, I've not seen any policy change in print.

[Mike E.]

Re: Ball Joints

If I'm not mistaken most replacement ball joint have larger mounting holes to accommodate bolts for installation. If riveting then you must use larger rivets than the originals which might be detectable. Where reproductions from AFC have the correct size mounting holes.

Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Ball Joints

The other typical deviation in ball studs (GM's terminology. It always reminds me of Bevis & Butthead) is the OEM studs have an unthreaded lead-in of about 3/4-inch. Replacements usually have no lead-in, or a much shorter one.

BTW: I believe the original long lead-in was to accommodate the factory alignment fixtures, but I know John Hinckley would know for sure.

[Joe L.]

Re: Ball Joints

If I'm not mistaken most replacement ball joint have larger mounting holes to accommodate bolts for installation. If riveting then you must use larger rivets than the originals which might be detectable. Where reproductions from AFC have the correct size mounting holes.

Mike

Mike-----

Only the upper ball joints have larger rivet holes than the PRODUCTION versions. This includes both GM and aftermarket SERVICE joints. PRODUCTION upper ball joints had 9/32" holes for 1/4" rivets. SERVICE upper ball joints have 11/32" holes for use with 5/16" bolts. Lower ball joints, PRODUCTION and SERVICE, have 11/32" holes for 5/16" rivets or 5/16" bolts.

I do not know what size holes the reproduction upper ball joints have although I suspect they are 11/32".

Many upper a-arms have had their ball joint mounting holes enlarged from 9/32" to 11/32" when previous SERVICE ball joints were installed. I do not recommend trying to use 1/4" rivets with these even if ball joints with 9/32" mounting holes could be obtained (which I doubt).

[Mike E.]

Re: Ball Joints

Mike-----

Only the upper ball joints have larger rivet holes than the PRODUCTION versions. This includes both GM and aftermarket SERVICE joints. PRODUCTION upper ball joints had 11/32" holes for 5/16" rivets. SERVICE upper ball joints have 13/32" holes for use with 3/8" bolts. Lower ball joints, PRODUCTION and SERVICE, have 13/32" holes for 3/8" rivets or 3/8" bolts.

I do not know what size holes the reproduction upper ball joints have although I suspect they are 13/32".

Many upper a-arms have had their ball joint mounting holes enlarged from 11/32" to 13/32" when previous SERVICE ball joints were installed. I do not recommend trying to use 5/16" rivets with these even if ball joints with 11/32" mounting holes could be obtained (which I doubt).

Joe,
I'm not sure that's correct about production rivets sizes. The lower rivets supplied with reproduction lower ball joints were 5/16" rivets and the uppers use 1/4" rivets. When I drilled out the lower rivets and installed in the lower arm the 5/16" was a nice snug fit same was true with the uppers. A 3/8" rivet on the lower & 5/16" rivets on the upper would not have fit in the hole, they would have been to large.







Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: Ball Joints

Joe,
I'm not sure that's correct about production rivets sizes. The lower rivets supplied with reproduction lower ball joints were 5/16" rivets and the uppers use 1/4" rivets. When I drilled out the lower rivets and installed in the lower arm the 5/16" was a nice snug fit same was true with the uppers. A 3/8" rivet on the lower & 5/16" rivets on the upper would not have fit in the hole, they would have been to large.







Mike

Mike------


Yes, you're correct. I erred on the rivet and hole sizes. The PRODUCTION upper ball joints were secured with 1/4" rivets and the hole size was 9/32". The SERVICE upper ball joints were secured with 5/16" bolts and the hole size was 11/32".

The lower ball joints, PRODUCTION and SERVICE were secured with 5/16" rivets and 5/16" bolts. The hole size was 11/32" for both PRODUCTION and SERVICE. I'm also going to correct my above post.

[John H.]

Re: Ball Joints

The other typical deviation in ball studs (GM's terminology. It always reminds me of Bevis & Butthead) is the OEM studs have an unthreaded lead-in of about 3/4-inch. Replacements usually have no lead-in, or a much shorter one.

BTW: I believe the original long lead-in was to accommodate the factory alignment fixtures, but I know John Hinckley would know for sure.

Terry -

That's correct - the unthreaded shank extension on both the upper and lower ball joints was used by the front suspension caster/camber set fixtures on the Frame Upside-down Line.