Author Topic: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?  (Read 16311 times)

9T4Z

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Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« on: December 29, 2007, 11:29:32 PM »
Hello there.. 69 camaro

been looking at a lot of suppliers that say "OEM" but I am sure a few of you may know.  I thought the ones from 'Ricks' looked ok also the lowers from Heartbeat City.

Anyone post a pic of a correct pair or steer me in the right direction?


Happy New Year   
Gary 9T4Z

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69 Pace Car, 70RS,91Z,91RS

Cory68

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2007, 03:30:13 PM »
Year One is a safe bet to go with if your replacing with original type.  Rick's is good also.

Gramps69Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2007, 05:35:54 PM »
I don't see a problem with the pressed in lowers, the orginal uppers are riveted to the upper control arm, and all replacements I've seen are bolted in.
Captain John Wykoff
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onebad34

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2007, 12:29:21 AM »
Restoring our 67 camaro, we purchased rivit head bolts for installing the upper ball joints. they look like a rivit, and bolt from under.  We purchased them from "Trim Tag.com"  These were for the "vett"  guys.  Pete

9T4Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2007, 04:41:10 AM »
Yes the lower shouldn't be a problem... Ricks and Heartbeat have a good one but the uppers from some are different.. the hump in the middle and the position of the grease fitting.

I did buy some of the threaded rivets.. looked good.  Then I took some "real rivets" and ran a die on it.. its 1/4"  The metal is soft so it's pretty easy to do.  The color is more correct than the plating on the other pre-made ones.

I've got the A arms off so I will do the rivet correctly but the thread is neat if you don't want to hammer on a A arm thats attached.

Gary 9T4Z

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69 Pace Car, 70RS,91Z,91RS

JohnZ

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2007, 06:36:37 PM »
I wouldn't advise using rivets you've threaded - they're pretty soft and have nowhere near the tensile strength as a threaded fastener as the replacement Grade 8 bolts that come with the replacement upper ball joints. As a rivet, they work fine when set properly, but they don't make a good threaded fastener.
'69 Z/28
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Gramps69Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2007, 10:47:07 PM »
I agreed with JohnZ, if you could see the possible damage done when a ball joint breaks loose, you would too. And they don't do it parked.  I know I wouldn't want to be driving my car when one breaks.   :(
Captain John Wykoff
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9T4Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2008, 12:50:37 AM »
Good advice... will remove the control arm and use OE rivet properly set!

Happy New Year
Gary 9T4Z

94Z rag blower 491 rwhp (now 505!)
69 Pace Car, 70RS,91Z,91RS

firstgenaddict

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2008, 10:39:18 PM »
Ricks sells the reproduction Bubble top Ball joints... they are painted black though... the originals were natural steel.
The bubble tops were used on 67-68 for sure but most original 69's I have seen were the flat top which no one reproduces... as far as I know. They are had NOS... and a Pair of NOS ones runs around $500 if you can find them.
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
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Jerry@CHP

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2008, 01:42:03 PM »
We do rivet ball joints inito the upper control arms here at CHP.  It's one of the services that we offer.  $100 for the pair.

Jerry

Dusk Blue Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2008, 01:16:34 PM »
Attached is a picture of the different upper ball joints. The left one is a 28K original (mine), the center one is a NOS 3963842 (ebay), the right one is a SS-195 from Classic Suspension (Chevy). The spot welds are very visible on the NOS compared to the original, but the appearance is correct. The SS-195 has a round or bubble top. The rubber boots are held on with the metal band that is shown on the original part.

Does anyone know where you could buy just the rubber boots?

Mike

Mike

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firstgenaddict

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2008, 01:48:31 PM »
The repo bubble tope also has larger holes... for bolts not for the original rivets
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

9T4Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2008, 10:59:13 PM »
Attached is a picture of the different upper ball joints. The left one is a 28K original (mine), the center one is a NOS 3963842 (ebay), the right one is a SS-195 from Classic Suspension (Chevy). The spot welds are very visible on the NOS compared to the original, but the appearance is correct. The SS-195 has a round or bubble top. The rubber boots are held on with the metal band that is shown on the original part.

Does anyone know where you could buy just the rubber boots?

Mike



Mike.. can you be sure that your 'original 28K mi' is indeed original.  Reason I ask is because originals were 1/4" hole for the GM rivet and later replacements has a 5/16' hole and the A arm was drilled to increase the size slightly for the bolt/nut kit.
Your original looks to have 5/16" holes unless it is just the picture.  When you removed them did you cut off the rivets?

Gary
Gary 9T4Z

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Dusk Blue Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2008, 09:51:14 PM »
The holes are 1/4 inch, I drilled out the rivets to remove them. They are still tight, just the rubber boots were shot.

Mike

1969 Z/28 Legends Certified
1969 Z-10 Under Construction

9T4Z

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Re: Where to buy "correct appearing" ball joints?
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2008, 02:20:52 AM »
Cool... 1/4" hole = original.   I note that the SS195 from Classic has the 5/16" hole.... making it impossible to use the original rivet and thus use the supplied nut and bolts.

If you want a 5/16' rivet you can always use the one for F@RD lower ball joints...
Gary 9T4Z

94Z rag blower 491 rwhp (now 505!)
69 Pace Car, 70RS,91Z,91RS

 

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