What lower balljoint is this?

[DonChez]

took my 7 to get a wheel alignment today. the tech checked the lower balljoint, lots of play...about 1/8 inch of travel. So, now I need to find out what to kind to buy. From my searches/responses I know it's not a standard Miata lower balljiont, but it seems to be a Miata spindle. Need help ID the part. here is the picture...

[MustangSix]

It looks a lot like the upper ball joint from an early Mustang.

[rx7locost]

Tough to tell from a photo. It also looks like a circa 70's GM upper to me like this one:

http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts/chevrolet/chevelle/ball_joints/ball_joint_upper.html?3593=34000

[DonChez]

It looks a lot like the upper ball joint from an early Mustang.

did some digging myself, it looked familier to me, so I googled xxx car ball joint, found this... http://www.amazon.com/Suspension-Ball-J ... B003W2GXC2 the part really looks like what I got on the car. this internet is just fantasitic!... going to give this part a try!

[MustangSix]

[DonChez]

yep, that is the part. I installed two yesterday. My only question is, this ball joint designed is for a car that has the spring on the upper "A" arm and the load is pushing down on the spindle. in this application it is being used on the lower "A" frame/spring which is pulling on the ball joint, It's using this ball joint in the a apposite loading direction then it's design. Anyone think this is a problem?

[horizenjob]

I wasn't going to say anything. It's actually somewhat worse then what you are saying. In the original application it pushes up, but doesn't carry a large load. In your application it carries the weight of the car because the spring is mounted to the lower wishbone, which is common obviously.

I don't know if there are a range of parts with that shape that would include something like light truck pieces. Use the parts you got, but I would also keep at the project and see if there are any heavier duty parts, you may want to take some apart and look at them and also consider moving to a better design.

Have fun and don't give up.

[MustangSix]

The original Ford application had the spring above the upper arm, so most of the load was carried by the upper joint, but in the other direction.

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

There were 3 bolt and 4 bolt upper balljoints/ucas on the falcon/mustang so make sure you get the right ones.

Are you sure the old joint is loose in the cup? I'd be suprised if a weekend car could put that much wear on an oem joint in less than 20 years unless they were used mustang joints, which I doubt. If the taper is not correct, the looseness may be the joint stem rocking in the spindle taper.

Those are definately miata spindles.
The miata lower joint is the best joint to use.
The lower control arms you have could be modified to use the miata joint.

[DonChez]

I wasn't going to say anything. It's actually somewhat worse then what you are saying. In the original application it pushes up, but doesn't carry a large load. In your application it carries the weight of the car because the spring is mounted to the lower wishbone, which is common obviously.

I don't know if there are a range of parts with that shape that would include something like light truck pieces. Use the parts you got, but I would also keep at the project and see if there are any heavier duty parts, you may want to take some apart and look at them and also consider moving to a better design.

Have fun and don't give up.

I did look at the ones removed vs the ones I installed. The one installed have 360 degrees of ball joint grip vs the removed ones at about 180 degrees...maybe that why they they were shot at 5k miles.

[ted andkilde]

The lower control arms you have could be modified to use the miata joint.

Toyota Previa lower might be easier to convert to as it's fairly similar to the one he has:



t

[DonChez]

The lower control arms you have could be modified to use the miata joint.

Toyota Previa lower might be easier to convert to as it's fairly similar to the one he has:



t

Looks like a good option for the future.

A question...the taper of the ford joint vs the miata spindle...are they the same? Or, if someone could advise on the taper of the lower ball joint of a Miata, I can measure the old joints taper to see if it's a match. I never checked...you know that assummed thing.
I've read on threads that there are typically two different tapers, if my memory is correct, 7 degrees and 10? I know this may sound like I'm but it's all in the details!

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

Determine if the play is from the stem of the old joint in the spindle or the ball of the old joint and it's socket.

If the stem is a loose fitting in the spindle, buy miata joints and have the control arms modified, keeping the distance from the ball center to the lca pivots the same distance (if they are the same length on the left and the right lcas).

Are previa joints the same taper as the miata? I don't remember. If so, it would be easier but I would verify the stem fit first. Gotta go.

[53sled]

BTTT, can one use a previa ball joint as shown, instead of miata lower?

[cheapracer]

BTTT, can one use a previa ball joint as shown, instead of miata lower?

Why would you? The Previa joint is the same unloaded joint as the Mustang but made for a lighter vehicle and your Mustang type has already shown it can last 20 years.

Pulling the old Mustang joint out and looking at the taper will immediately tell you if the taper is the same or not and who says the guy before you didn't change the taper if it was different .... you have the option to change that taper if it hasn't been done before or just leave it the way it was, as I said it has 20 years of proof. If the taper is different it will still not rock if the nut is tight, that's not a recommendation to run different tapers, it's just a fact.