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Ball Joint Failure / Replacement Arm or Ball Joint?
I'm happy to say that this failure happened at low speed. I could have taken the freeway but decided not to. Lets just say, just imaging what would of happened to me with a ball joint failure at 60+ mph
A few quick pics. Need to understand if this failure at the arm is rebuildable with Geometry Correction Kit or should I just buy a used set of control arms and rebuild all the bushings. Car is lowered on Ground Control front and rear with rear torsion delete with delrin spring plate bushings. 300# front and 500# rear for the street. Need opinions or advices. Thanks in advance.
By lowering the car, you've limited the travel so the ball joint binds with the pocket in the aluminum control arm. This binding up caused it to break a piece of the control arm off, and thus the ball popped out.
It is not rebuildable.
Either get a set of good after market arms like the racers use; or raise the ride height of the car and use a stock arm, or get a stock arm and modify it for the geometry correction.
I believe Lart posted a picture of a whole pile of control arms not too long ago...so he should have something cheaper.
Going to contact him for a set of arms to rebuild
Originally Posted by Van
This is the problem.
By lowering the car, you've limited the travel so the ball joint binds with the pocket in the aluminum control arm. This binding up caused it to break a piece of the control arm off, and thus the ball popped out.
It is not rebuildable.
Either get a set of good after market arms like the racers use; or raise the ride height of the car and use a stock arm, or get a stock arm and modify it for the geometry correction.
Ive searched at aftermarket arms but at that price, im just going to rebuild a used set from lart with 19mm ball joint pins. I also think chromoly arms with spherical bushings would be overkill and wouldnt last long on the streets here in Hawaii. Whats involved in installing longer pins?
Originally Posted by V2Rocket
You have an 86 which makes it easier to use the much cheaper, replaceable ball joint early steel arms.
Ive looked at this option but couldnt find a geometry correction kit for the arms. Do you know a vendor that carries them?
Thanks for all the suggestions.!
Just saw a post Van made which made a valid point on GCK Ball Joint Pins. His concern was taking material off the hub to make room for the 19mm pin, which would be another point of failure. Looking at aftermarket arms now, Racer's Edge or High Strung 44.
Read the whole thread. Looks like a great option but thread poster stated it took a while since theyre made to order. I would also need to convert to steel arms and bushings. Thanks for the info
You can use the stock A-arms (not the one that broke) with a Rennbay ball joint kit (I presume they are still available). They are longer and will adjust for the lowered car. You can also get 19mm pins, but it would require some machine work to fit. Not needed for the street. I put a set of 19mm rennbay pins in my track car in 2006. They are still in there after 10 years. No problems. It's a pretty easy fix. Your failure is classic. Lucky no one was hurt. Donate the broken arm to your local PCA chapter to use as and example during a tech session.
The steel arms, with the replaceable ball joints, have a longer range of motion, so they will work fine for you.
That's great to here. Don't need the bump steer kit. Will do some research on parts needed for conversion. 944 online no longer offers the kit. Thabks as always Van with your explanations.
Are we talking about this kit? http://rennbay.com/Ball-Joints/944-Ball-Joint-Kit-Solid-Bushing.html
Would like to possible stay away from modifying the hubs. Thanks for the info!
Originally Posted by 944hal
You can use the stock A-arms (not the one that broke) with a Rennbay ball joint kit (I presume they are still available). They are longer and will adjust for the lowered car. You can also get 19mm pins, but it would require some machine work to fit. Not needed for the street. I put a set of 19mm rennbay pins in my track car in 2006. They are still in there after 10 years. No problems. It's a pretty easy fix. Your failure is classic. Lucky no one was hurt. Donate the broken arm to your local PCA chapter to use as and example during a tech session.
02-04-2016, 03:42 AM
Ball Joint Failure / Replacement Arm or Ball Joint?
