Mopar Ball Joints
 

I had a upper Ball Joint fail on Demon in Pomona today.
Are there any better quality Ball joints available than
the regular Auto parts stuff?
I use Energy Bushings
in the front end but regular replacement Ball Joints I have
1972 Small hole Drum brake setup. Does anybody make a spacer
to us larger disc brake spindles in early A arm/Ball Joint?

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

doctordiff@gmail.com

(406)883-4772 10-6 Mountain Time, M-F

http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-72-Mopar-...99e6c2&vxp=mtr

Is this what you are looking for?

Tony

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

I also had a failure with my SS/JA '71 Duster this fall at Epping. Luckily nothing serious came of it.

I was looking at welding them in place but this looks like a good idea. Thanks for the link!

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

John,

I know you need a fix today..........but later maybe it's time to upgrade to
either 73-76 A-body disc brakes with the bigger ball joints or aftermarket
disc brakes?

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

Where are they breaking at?

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

Mark, the above kit looks like a good idea for adapting the '73-'76 -larger/beefier/BUT heavier- knuckles to the early ball joints, but you'd still be using the same early (small) ball joint and control arm. If it's the early ball joint and control arm that is the issue, this kit isn't gonna be of much help.

Afco makes low friction all joints, not sure about 'better quality' as John asked for, but likely are.

http://www.afcoracing.com/#

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

In my case the threads appear to have let go allowing the spindle to push the BJ up through the control arm. My plan is to fix the threads and tack them to the control arm upon re-install.

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

Threads let go on Upper A Arm and let the Joint pull completely out. I do have Wilwood brakes . I welded the Ball joint back in.. I have second thought about
running it after my Luck at Pomona (1 Knocking down Tree 2 123 Minute Oil down in consecutive years ). I am wondering if larger A Arms on 73 UP with larger diameter Joint would make it any stronger?

I appreciate all the advise!

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

John, I've used these on Mopars with the larger B body ball joints.
You may be able to use them on the A body by using a taper reamer on the spindle .
Stock car stuff, as HD as you're gonna find.
I've got them from Coleman racing products.
You can position them where you want it height wise to help bump and travel.
The taper is the same as the k727 joint.

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

The newest of the small joint upper control arms are now 40 years old and the threads may be marginal which isn't gonna help with ball joint retention. Checked with the seller of this kit on eBay, and he says these upper arms have the small joints.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170916081863...witem=&vxp=mtr

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

www.moparts.com and www.forabodiesonly.com often have people selling the parts needed to convert from the earlier small ball joint/spindle set-ups to the '73 & newer bigger disc brake set-up. Unfortunately, any existing aftermarket brakes need to be changed to fit.

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

I saw a thread on Moparts about this issue. It said that the a arms when new are not threaded, the ball joints are self taping, so the first one that is screwed in cuts the threads. I would guess when ever one is changed it will take out a little bit of material and eventually lose it's proper fit.
I have heard of people putting a stitch of weld on them in street driven cars to avoid changing the a-arms. I can't see how this could hurt anything, just make replacing them more difficult.
I have the later larger ones on my car, and haven't had a problem yet. I'm not sure if the ones Tom recommended would be legal for stock, maybe ss. Go idea though!
George

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

The old school front end shop fix for this is pretty simple.....all you need to do is with a small hammer take and tap the ball joint flange in the A arm reducing it's diameter to the point where the bottom of the new ball joint still slips in but the threaded portion does not.....screw in the new ball til it seats then put a couple small tack welds on it and you are done......

D L Rambo STK 1300

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

I used Moog ball joints on my 68 A-Body that has 73-76 front suspension.

The paperwork Moog supplied said "thread ball joint squarely into control arm until shoulder of ball joint is firmly seated against the arm. If torque required to seat the housing is less than 125 ft-lbs, the control arm must be replaced."

I can't remember what mine checked at, but well over 125 ft-lbs.

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

I would rather not weld on heat-treated ball joint housings. I'd look into red Loctite on the threads, and welding a strap across the joint onto the A arm.

Re: Mopar Ball Joints
 

Thanks for all the Excellent Advise.....I think I will buy the
new reproduction stuff When you consider the lower joints
alone are 50 each it makes to package not that bad!

Thanks Again!!:)