Best available ball joints?

[ga.spyder]

The 124 Spider I used to race,is being brought back to the track! Although I am now on another team,I am rooting for them and trying to help them out.They have some sketchy ball joints on the car.Does anyone know of a very good,strong ball joint available in the aftermarket? I have heard TRW and MOOG both are good ones.Any feedback appreciated.They dont have to be a 'racing type ',if those even exist.

[vandor]

FWIW, I am not aware of any 'bad' balljoints.

[djape1977]

TRW - excellent
MOOG - never had them

avoid BIRTH, OCAP...

best if you can find something from very old stock, 70's or 80's, like these fiat ricambi originali

[DieselSpider]

In over 40 years wrenching on cars I have never had a bad experience with Moog or its parent company Federal-Mogul Corporation which has been in Detroit since 1899.

Moog suspension components are now mandated for NASCAR racing so you won't get to compete in a Sprint Cup race without them.

If you find old stock replace the rubber boots and do your best to repack them with fresh grease. I have seen too many where the oil is separating from the base and leaking out leaving a gritty residue from the dried up pressure additives that are left behind. Grease does go bad over time and even new grease in the can or grease gun will eventually separate.

[ga.spyder]

Thanks for the feedback.The MOOG name seems to pop up in a lot of conversations.I believe that is what they are going to replace them with.I didn't mean it to sound that vendors were carrying inferior ball joints.I just remember the link a while back about some to avoid because of reported failures.These are going on a race only car,and strength was the main criteria.
http://www.mirafiori.com/~thad/balljoints/bj.html
This is from Mira several years back

[bobplyler]

I had both lower ball joints fail at different times. They were aftermarket ball joints with the place for a grease fitting.

Ball joints are at highest stress when braking and under extreme motion. These were the conditions when they failed. Luckily at very low speeds.

[Ramzi]

I think there was a spate of ball joints which where not very good about 10-15 years ago. But I think that supply has been long exhausted.

That said... I had an factory original lower ball joint fail on my '80 Spider in about '85. Luckily I was pulling into my driveway. And Ive seen horrible results from ball joint failure...

So definitely another item to be very careful about.

Ramzi

[RRoller123]

Is there any warning or do they just separate all of a sudden? That would certainly be what we call a catastrophic failure. Could easily cause an accident.

[Ramzi]

I had no warning, but I was in my 20's.... so even if I had any warning, I would have probably ignored it. While racing, we would check all the joints before loading the car ...it was pretty routine. We used large channel locks to check for play in the joints.

The catastrophic failure I recall was also probably this fellows worst day ever. After returning to Dallas after being away, he stopped by to say hello.... When it was time to leave, is starter was dead. After helping him out to get going he headed for the hwy.... after entering the on ramp of a 4 lane divided, the passenger joint failed and he swerved straight for the center divider. Fortunately no one was hurt but the car was a total loss...

The icing on the cake was when we gave him a ride to his home... his wife began yelling at him... something about a cat, a dog and 3 children..

Probably the worst day Ive ever witnessed.

R

[bobplyler]

I had no warning. Either time.

[RRoller123]

And the failure is that they snap and separate? Not lock up?

[bobplyler]

Yes. They separate.

[RRoller123]

Truly frightening.

[DieselSpider]

To me its more like a POP! when they go.

[RRoller123]

So one wheel then flies out sideways, or tilts in or out.