Trying to locate a suspension ball joint

[ajlelectronics]

No idea what vehicle uses these, it was used to convert a Reliant Kitten away from standard due to poor availability of the original part.

All I can tell you is that the taper thread is 7/16" AF which suggests British application. The body nuts are 42.5mm across flats which is around 1" Whitworth or 1 1/8" BSF I would say. Car is VOR until I source these.

There is a suggestion that Tempest Cars started using them on their Kitten rebodied vehicles, but I can't find out anything else. It would appear that the hole in the wishbone has been reamed out so can't even go back to standard.

 

[scotty-stoke]

looks similar to ones fitted on Austin mini/metro http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lower-OR-...010?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c6e8161fa

 

[johnik]

yup,deffo look like metro tho they didnt use the lock nut.

 

[ajlelectronics]

GSJ269 looks likely which is a Metro / MGF part without lock nut. I assume that was a seperate item to fit this application. I have a pair of the balljoints coming up from a local factor shortly, so we will see. Many thanks for the help both.

 

[ford34/2]

maybe going back too far, Citroen saxo AX, Peugeot 405/305 or similar models. was others using similar fixing nut type.

Stan

 

[normspanners]

I agree early metro

 

[ajlelectronics]

The ball joints arrived and the body thread is identical. I had to clean the old nut a bit, looks like the original bodger had mutilated it, which is why it wouldn't tighten down. That's resolved now. The only problem is that there is insufficient thread to engage the Nyloc, so I may have to use a half nut and split pin, or some other security method. It certainly can't stay half threaded. So it seems to me that it is the correct animal, but I need to make a better examination when I sort it properly. I am wondering whether the taper is a little fatter maybe.

 

[normspanners]

I have a feeling the early metro had smaller taper hole similar size to mini in wishbone up to 84, then they went larger for more strength coiuld be you need early not later metro/ mgf which uses later metro subframes front and rear. the later mgtf used adeeper ball joint again.
dont hold me to this though, just going off dodgy ram memory
RAM stands for Random Acts of Madness

 

[normspanners]

somewhere I have a taper reamer to suit ball joints if you are stuck

 

[octo0072000]

make sure you check old and new taper size if wrong it will come loose
also think you need the early ones

 

[normspanners]

I had a look and found at least one tapered reamer, we used to get all the scrap tooling from quintin hazel they used to scrap literally tons of it we used to get skip fulls.

 

[ford34/2]

I had a look and found at least one tapered reamer, we used to get all the scrap tooling from quintin hazel they used to scrap literally tons of it we used to get skip fulls.

if only you knew then what you know now-- be worth a small fortune

Stan

 

[normspanners]

YEP
We used to get at least 2x 12ton skips twice a week full of tca tre's ball joints for cars trucks tractors most perfect -----------mt drills/ taps /reamers /lathe tools/etc etc
all vert brand new.

 

[octo0072000]

just for you norm
RAMIN stands for Random Acts of Madness in Mankini

 

[ajlelectronics]

Thanks all. Given chance I will strip it again tomorrow. I did do a visual comparison with the old and new parts and they looked the same. However, the lack of thread shows that something isn't right and has to be rectified before being driven again.

This is a modification from the original parts, the only reason I can see is to save £15 per side but add lots of aggro. I may just get the right ball joints and see if they will still fit the wishbones, either that or spend another few hours sourcing the new parts and fettling it all to be safe and roadworthy.

 

[normspanners]

Ah I thought they where not available
measure the minor and major of the taper see if this reamer would ease it out you are welcome to borrow it .

 

[normspanners]

The other way would be to put the ball joints in a lathe and run a center in the end of the ball joint you could then spin the joint down
the standard taper is reamed with 1-1/2" per foot reamer, also known as a 7° tapered reamer.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I compared old and spare new earlier. The taper is the same by eye and as far as I could measure, it looks correct. There is definitely a shortage of thread length though, so I will get the earlier one to compare with on Monday.

 

[ibrooks]

As has been mentioned there are early and late Metro joints and it's the taper that's different - i.e. both would fit your "top-hat" nut. You need to use the correct ones if you are putting Metro hubs on a Mini (early ones as the taper in the later balljoints is wrong for the Mini top and bottom arms - which may be what you are seeing). Given this, Minispares may be able to give you the proper specifications of the balljoints and confirm whether you have the early ones already and therefore whether it may or may not be worth trying the "other" ones.

The Mini balljoint is a different animal as it uses the older domed nut and shims rather than the sealed unit.

Iain

 

[normspanners]

Some 7/16 unf nuts are 5/8 af and some are 11/16 af (spanner size) it is daft I know but the 11/16 are not as tall IIRC