15 replies to this topic

[FDW]

Hi everyone,

 

Been refurbing some hubs last few days and bought two pairs of Delphi ball joints to go them as these are supposed to be the best quality available - of what quality there is left. Tried fitting them to the car and I'm utterly disappointed.

 

All of the ball joints are incredibly uneven to the point I am unable to shim them as it might as well be guesswork. The difference between the high and low points is such that I can feel end float on the loose parts and the tight parts are rock solid. Some of them it is half and half, others the centre tends to be much tighter than other bits. I've tried lapping one in using fine grinding paste and it seems a pretty futile exercise so far.

 

Am I being a numpty and getting something wrong or should I be concerned about the ball joints? And finally any idea what I'm supposed to do about it as I don't fancy going round in circles getting new joints that are just as crap. Thanks for the help, shall now go and paint my calipers instead. 

 

[Maccmike8]

Would it be possible to use some engineers blue, then sand the high spots with something more aggressive, and then try lapping?

[Tones61]

They need to be lapped in , than shimmed after a good clean

[bpirie1000]

What grease do you use in your grease gun?

[FDW]

What grease do you use in your grease gun?

I have some standard LM grease in it at the moment, but haven't even got to that stage yet. Might get some moly grease once I get these up and running

[mab01uk]

Japanese Maintenance Free Mini Ball Joints.....

https://classicminis...ee-ball-joints/

Edited by mab01uk, 13 August 2021 - 07:29 PM.

[Compdoc]

http://www.guess-wor...play.htm?id=611

I've just got a set, they are brilliant.

[sonscar]

Do this at your own risk,use coarse paste,joint fully loose.Use electric drill and lightly move the ball through all directions for a second or two worked for me.Steve..

[Spider]

Japanese Maintenance Free Mini Ball Joints.....

https://classicminis...ee-ball-joints/

 

He also has these standard type of joints;-

 

https://classicminis...em-ball-joints/

 

I have fitted a set of these up to a friend's Moke;-  https://www.theminif...off-again-lads/

 

I have to say, I was impressed with them out of the box, firstly, they are ground finished (others available are turned) and they seem proper hard. No lapping needed, shimmed up nicely and so far, still as 'tight' as the day they were fitted. My only 'gripe' with them, if you can call it that' is like most other joints on the market, the flat on them for the grease to come through is too small, but a quick lick on the linisher fixes that, though I now see they have sorted this. I would say these are at a minimum at least as good as the original BMC / Leyland / Rover joints or better.

[bpirie1000]

I would also suggest to check the threads on the hub.. i have seen some hamfisted over tightened hubs damage the threads.. difficult to see but can be done.. the threads act as a spring and effects the torque /tension..

[Tornado99]

Japanese Maintenance Free Mini Ball Joints.....
https://classicminis...ee-ball-joints/

He also has these standard type of joints;-

https://classicminis...em-ball-joints/

I have fitted a set of these up to a friend's Moke;- https://www.theminif...off-again-lads/

I have to say, I was impressed with them out of the box, firstly, they are ground finished (others available are turned) and they seem proper hard. No lapping needed, shimmed up nicely and so far, still as 'tight' as the day they were fitted. My only 'gripe' with them, if you can call it that' is like most other joints on the market, the flat on them for the grease to come through is too small, but a quick lick on the linisher fixes that, though I now see they have sorted this. I would say these are at a minimum at least as good as the original BMC / Leyland / Rover joints or better.

Those heavy duty sort are almost same pricing as maintenance free if i'm reading it correctly. $125 CAD for a pair of HD's, so two pair needed. MF's were around $75 CAD last I checked, per joint so times 4.

What's the shipping like from Japan?

[Magneto]

I've put in a couple of sets of the maintenance free joints and I think they are SO worth the money - both from the hassle free installation and long life with no further adjustments. The ones from Guessworks seem like a good price on those - I paid almost twice that shipped from Japan. I will never shim another ball joint in my lifetime!

[Spider]

 

 

Japanese Maintenance Free Mini Ball Joints.....
https://classicminis...ee-ball-joints/

He also has these standard type of joints;-

https://classicminis...em-ball-joints/

I have fitted a set of these up to a friend's Moke;- https://www.theminif...off-again-lads/

I have to say, I was impressed with them out of the box, firstly, they are ground finished (others available are turned) and they seem proper hard. No lapping needed, shimmed up nicely and so far, still as 'tight' as the day they were fitted. My only 'gripe' with them, if you can call it that' is like most other joints on the market, the flat on them for the grease to come through is too small, but a quick lick on the linisher fixes that, though I now see they have sorted this. I would say these are at a minimum at least as good as the original BMC / Leyland / Rover joints or better.

Those heavy duty sort are almost same pricing as maintenance free if i'm reading it correctly. $125 CAD for a pair of HD's, so two pair needed. MF's were around $75 CAD last I checked, per joint so times 4.

What's the shipping like from Japan?

 

 

They are close in price, with the OEM type working out a little cheaper at Y10780.00 a pair and the Maintenance Free at Y5830.00 ea - so a car set is OEM Y21 560.00 (142 GBP) and Maintenance Free Y23320.00 (155 GBP).

 

It wasn't for reasons of price that we fitted up the OEM Style, it was for reasons of (relatively) known reliability. The Maintenance Free types do look good and from what I can see, should be at least every bit as good as the Original Joints, but I'm sure you can appreciate, where we go, while we do have spares, we need to have the best of reliability, they are not places to carry out experiments.

[Johnmar]

I'm in the sloooow proces of restoring out '93 Mini Tahiti and the ball joints I bought (at mini spares) where a pain: needed lapping in and the provided shimms where not enough. And after 5 months on the front subframe, the nuts are looking rusty. So not the quality I hoped for.

Yesterday I ordered a set of 4 NSR ball joints at guessworks to be shipped to NL.

I'm dreading all the rubberboots I bought previously
Guess I have to prepare to order the "Valtain" brand (if I remember correctly)


(Anyone any experiance with those Valtain parts? My memory is letting me down here, but I do remember an add on "better quality rubber parts" with a name sounding kike that..)

Johnmar

Edited by Johnmar, 18 August 2021 - 12:52 PM.

[SolarB]

FWD.

 

Delphi products are usually very good. Is there a possibility you have ended up with cheap copies rather than original items?