24 replies to this topic

[alpder]

I'm new to balljoints/swivels. My first Mini. Even so, the amount of trouble I'm having with these seems beyond. It's enough to put me off Minis.

• I need 55thou of shims plus the tab-washer, to shim just one balljoint. So all the shims that came in my entire disk-conversion-kit, plus another box of shims I bought extra, are enough to do one.
• They're rough. You can actually feel the surfaces moving: that kind-of 'buzzing' feel as you rub one machined part against the other, caused by fine but regular tool-marks.
• They've got high-spots so bad that in places you need a pry-bar to move them while in others there's visible endfloat.

"Maybe this is normal", I thought. So I tried fitting one of the balljoints taken from the old drum-brake hub. It's smooth as silk, takes 15 thou of shims, and moves through its entire range without any high spots.

 

Seems that buying proper balljoints these days is a pot-luck thing. So, could somebody please fill me in on the current state-of-play with shim-less balljoints, because after one evening I've already had enough of the "real" thing. From browsing umpteen threads, I gather there are several suppliers:

• David(?) at Classic Minis Japan
• Roger(?) at Classic Mini NLA
• MiniSpares
• Guessworks

As far as I understand it - please correct me where I'm wrong - the first three are selling identical products, while Guessworks' is different? And only the last three hold UK stock?

 

And, final question... is everyone who bought some, still happy with them?

[IronmanG]

For hassle free go to guessworks and get the Japanese jobs. Just fit them no maintenance easy peasy

[Steve220]

I find dealing with David (mini japan) quite difficult. I bought mine from John whilst at Bingley and very pleased with the ball joints he provides.

[andyapanel]

Did you lap the ball joints in?

[slidehammer]

I have used the ones sold by Mini Spares and as mentioned above lap them in with fine grinding paste to get an even contact patched clean them up thoroughly as you don't want any paste left behind, then shim them up. There is a knack to it that you get into the swing of once the first one is done. What makes the job a whole lot easier is the proper long reach socket. I would assume like everything quality of the parts vary wildly that is why I always used trusted Mini suppliers for my parts not the local motor factors.

[IronmanG]

Trusted mini supplier? Just to throw fuel on the fire the main 4 or 5 have crap parts they sell. Some of the stuff I have bought i have fitted then taken straight off and chucked in the bin. I would say the smaller suppliers like Guessworks who literally have a reputation based business are the ones to go to.
Everyone's experience seems to be different

[IronmanG]

I find dealing with David (mini japan) quite difficult. I bought mine from John whilst at Bingley and very pleased with the ball joints he provides.

Agree totally. Met him at Bingley. No nonsense kind of bloke

[alpder]

Thanks everyone. I've pretty much decided to get a set of maintenance-free. Who from, though? I've checked and the prices presently are:

 

 - Classic Minis Japan - £196 by UPS but it's unclear if our ever-more-opaque customs system will add import duties on top. And delivery time could be extended.

 - Classic Mini NLA - Advises that it's more economic to buy direct.

 - MiniSpares - £234 inc postage.

 - Guessworks - £159 inc postage.

 

Guessworks the clear winner on price at £40 each. Are they as long-lasting as the CMJ/MiniSpares option at £50-£59? And are they the same geometry? If necessary, I'd rather spend the extra and forget about them forever, than save a bit now and be doing this job again in three years. The whole point of a nut'n'bolt rebuild is to minimise future faff!

[alpder]

PS John at Bingley is which supplier? Sorry for ignorance... am completely new to the Mini.

[nicklouse]

PS John at Bingley is which supplier? Sorry for ignorance... am completely new to the Mini.

Guessworks.

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

[IronmanG]

PS John at Bingley is which supplier? Sorry for ignorance... am completely new to the Mini.

Guessworks.

[alpder]

Some up-votes for Guessworks' balljoints already, then. Anyone want to make the case for the CMJ/Minispares ones instead?

[Midas Mk1]

Ran guesswork’s ones now for two years, daily Mini, does the mileage.
I’ll be getting a set for my other Mini and Midas.

[alpder]

Trusted mini supplier? Just to throw fuel on the fire the main 4 or 5 have crap parts they sell. Some of the stuff I have bought i have fitted then taken straight off and chucked in the bin. I would say the smaller suppliers like Guessworks who literally have a reputation based business are the ones to go to.
Everyone's experience seems to be different

Sub-standard, non-genuine, second-hand, and time-expired parts get into just about every supply-chain in the world, including highly-regulated ones such as aero-engine maintenance and medical implants. That it happens to retailers in the price-sensitive pattern-parts business is sadly no surprise. I'll send the balljoints back with a polite note (tho' they have been sitting on my shelf for 18 months). It'll be interesting to see what they say.

 

Agreed, too, that smaller suppliers have to maintain their reputation. OTOH they sell much smaller quantities so it takes them longer to gather enough feedback from real-world users to know whether their product is right. And they, too, still have to deal with manufacturers who can change the spec without telling them, or importers who switch suppliers without telling them.

[bpirie1000]

Make sure that king kong has not over tightened the previous balljoint nutts up to,tight and ruined the threads on the hub. Seen this far to many times of late and scrapped hubs are never nice...