A word about ball joints - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Southpa · 10-23-2003, 07:40 PM

Wow, I mean WOW. I don't know where the quality control has gone in the manufacture of ball joints. I just bought a replacement upper ball joint for the front end. I take it out of the package and find that the nut doesn't fit on the shaft AT ALL. Try to force it and the shaft just starts spinning. Well, I'm the kind of person who ALWAYS makes things fit. Good thing I have my tap/die set. The shaft/nut size should be 1/2" #20 NF (National Fine) if anyone is interested. So I did a quick run thru on both nut and shaft with a tap/die and everything is hunky dory. I ended up taking a bit of metal out of the nut to get it to fit the shaft properly. Its a darn good thing I checked it out before installing. So where is the quality control these days? I paid $110 Cdn for just one ball joint!

mocwon · 10-23-2003, 09:58 PM

Was it a Moog or TRW? If so, it's surprising the the threads were messed up.

Spoof · 10-23-2003, 11:55 PM

Al,
When I got my Moog balljoints I posted a similar thread slamming Moog quality control. Out of four boxes of balljoints, only one had all the proper pieces. All the others were missing a bolt, a grease fitting or a cotter pin, there was also some other egregious f up in one of the joints, a rubber missing or something. I was disgusted.
Let me know when you plan on attacking them, I'll help.

BTW I was floored by the prices too.

lukecp · 10-24-2003, 12:03 AM

I thought Moog made top-quality stuff

I've never used any moog stuff, but that is the impression i have been under.

Who makes good front end pieces then?

BadAssChevy502 · 10-24-2003, 05:44 AM

I need new balljoints in the near future but were can i buy good ones for the best price ofcourse

Thanks in advance

**MikeB** · 10-24-2003, 11:24 AM

After having problems in the mid-90s with no-name and Elgin (JC Whitney) front end parts, I have used Moog exclusively on my truck and car. Of the 20+ Moog boxes I've opened, none has ever been missing a part. I did have a problem with my 69 truck's control arm shafts. The original shafts used bolts (end caps?) with 1-3/8" hex heads on the uppers and 1-5/8" hex heads on the lowers. Both Moog bolt heads were slightly larger by prox 1/64" - 1/32". They may have been 35mm and 42mm. Anyway, I simply hand filed the bolt head "flats" to make them fit my sockets, since I didn't want to buy two $20 metric sockets, even if I could find some that large. FYI, the problems I had with no-name parts were creaking ball joints and cracking (actually, disentegrating) rubber dust caps.

slam33 · 10-24-2003, 11:39 AM

My Moog uppers ran me $32 each and the lowers were about $35 ea. They are top quality. I did the whole front end in Moog and have never had a problem with any of there stuff.

FRANKIEPOTATAS · 10-24-2003, 11:50 AM

I just picked up a pair of uppers from acdelco.....I'll let you know how they are

Fred T · 10-24-2003, 12:04 PM

I just replaced my entire front end with Moog. The only problem I had was the wrong seals for the upper control arm shafts. My parts man made it right, but he wasn't happy, either.

cwilli84 · 10-24-2003, 03:57 PM

What was wrong withthe boots,just curious I just replaced the upper control arms and was wondering why mine were shown as going on in a backward way.

BadAssChevy502 · 10-25-2003, 12:20 PM

Finally the new Ball Joints have arrived

BadAssChevy502 · 10-25-2003, 12:22 PM

they sure look good and now hope that everything fits

BadAssChevy502 · 10-25-2003, 12:23 PM

pic

**StingRay** · 10-25-2003, 12:47 PM

About 7 years ago I put on a few new front end parts and on one of the tie rod ends the new boot split and fell off about 6 months later. I used another I had from the new part I had for the other side but had not installed yet. 2 months later it split and fell off. I called Moog and they sent me 4 extra's in a box. 6 years later I am using an aftermarket urethane boot because all of the Moog stuff is long gone. I still have a good original tie rod on the other side and it is still using the original GM boot. Something is wrong when you have to pay as much as you do for "quality" parts and end up with junk like that!

10-23-2003, 07:40 PM	#1
Southpa Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 2,409	A word about ball joints Wow, I mean WOW. I don't know where the quality control has gone in the manufacture of ball joints. I just bought a replacement upper ball joint for the front end. I take it out of the package and find that the nut doesn't fit on the shaft AT ALL. Try to force it and the shaft just starts spinning. Well, I'm the kind of person who ALWAYS makes things fit. Good thing I have my tap/die set. The shaft/nut size should be 1/2" #20 NF (National Fine) if anyone is interested. So I did a quick run thru on both nut and shaft with a tap/die and everything is hunky dory. I ended up taking a bit of metal out of the nut to get it to fit the shaft properly. Its a darn good thing I checked it out before installing. So where is the quality control these days? I paid $110 Cdn for just one ball joint! __________________ 1970 GMC 1500 Custom Original 350/TH350 Victoria, BC, Canada You can wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which one gets filled first. Last edited by Southpa; 10-23-2003 at 07:48 PM.

10-23-2003, 11:55 PM	#3
Spoof Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Victoria,BC, Canada Posts: 1,300	Al, When I got my Moog balljoints I posted a similar thread slamming Moog quality control. Out of four boxes of balljoints, only one had all the proper pieces. All the others were missing a bolt, a grease fitting or a cotter pin, there was also some other egregious f up in one of the joints, a rubber missing or something. I was disgusted. Let me know when you plan on attacking them, I'll help. BTW I was floored by the prices too. __________________ 71 GMC 1500 LWB

10-24-2003, 12:03 AM	#4
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I thought Moog made top-quality stuff I've never used any moog stuff, but that is the impression i have been under. Who makes good front end pieces then? __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-24-2003, 05:44 AM	#5
BadAssChevy502 Yeh It's Fast Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Zwijndrecht ,The Netherlands ,Europe Posts: 143	balljoints I need new balljoints in the near future but were can i buy good ones for the best price ofcourse Thanks in advance __________________ (I'm sorry if the spelling isn't correct,i'm trying the best I can ) 1972 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 502ci Th400 Click here to view pictures of my truck 1971 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 350ci 3speed manual gearbox "IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T TRY TO FIX IT" Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands Europe

10-24-2003, 11:24 AM	#6
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,597	After having problems in the mid-90s with no-name and Elgin (JC Whitney) front end parts, I have used Moog exclusively on my truck and car. Of the 20+ Moog boxes I've opened, none has ever been missing a part. I did have a problem with my 69 truck's control arm shafts. The original shafts used bolts (end caps?) with 1-3/8" hex heads on the uppers and 1-5/8" hex heads on the lowers. Both Moog bolt heads were slightly larger by prox 1/64" - 1/32". They may have been 35mm and 42mm. Anyway, I simply hand filed the bolt head "flats" to make them fit my sockets, since I didn't want to buy two $20 metric sockets, even if I could find some that large. FYI, the problems I had with no-name parts were creaking ball joints and cracking (actually, disentegrating) rubber dust caps. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, recent AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; 10-24-2003 at 11:29 AM.

10-23-2003, 09:58 PM	#2
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Was it a Moog or TRW? If so, it's surprising the the threads were messed up. __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

10-24-2003, 11:39 AM	#7
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	My Moog uppers ran me $32 each and the lowers were about $35 ea. They are top quality. I did the whole front end in Moog and have never had a problem with any of there stuff. __________________ 71 LWB 350/350still working on it but it's going tp be sweet. www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A>

10-24-2003, 11:50 AM	#8
FRANKIEPOTATAS Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 63	I just picked up a pair of uppers from acdelco.....I'll let you know how they are

10-24-2003, 12:04 PM	#9
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	I just replaced my entire front end with Moog. The only problem I had was the wrong seals for the upper control arm shafts. My parts man made it right, but he wasn't happy, either. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

10-24-2003, 03:57 PM	#10
cwilli84 1FINE69 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 239	What was wrong withthe boots,just curious I just replaced the upper control arms and was wondering why mine were shown as going on in a backward way. __________________ Had a 69 swb fleetside 350zz3 w 400turbo trans oak lined bed with rhino coated sides red exterior. SOLD

10-25-2003, 12:20 PM	#11
BadAssChevy502 Yeh It's Fast Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Zwijndrecht ,The Netherlands ,Europe Posts: 143	Finally the new Ball Joints have arrived Finally the new Ball Joints have arrived Attached Images __________________ (I'm sorry if the spelling isn't correct,i'm trying the best I can ) 1972 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 502ci Th400 Click here to view pictures of my truck 1971 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 350ci 3speed manual gearbox "IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T TRY TO FIX IT" Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands Europe

10-25-2003, 12:22 PM	#12
BadAssChevy502 Yeh It's Fast Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Zwijndrecht ,The Netherlands ,Europe Posts: 143	another pic they sure look good and now hope that everything fits Attached Images __________________ (I'm sorry if the spelling isn't correct,i'm trying the best I can ) 1972 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 502ci Th400 Click here to view pictures of my truck 1971 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 350ci 3speed manual gearbox "IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T TRY TO FIX IT" Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands Europe

10-25-2003, 12:23 PM	#13
BadAssChevy502 Yeh It's Fast Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Zwijndrecht ,The Netherlands ,Europe Posts: 143	last one pic Attached Images __________________ (I'm sorry if the spelling isn't correct,i'm trying the best I can ) 1972 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 502ci Th400 Click here to view pictures of my truck 1971 C20 3/4 Pickup Fleetside 350ci 3speed manual gearbox "IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T TRY TO FIX IT" Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands Europe

10-25-2003, 12:47 PM	#14
StingRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada Posts: 2,476	About 7 years ago I put on a few new front end parts and on one of the tie rod ends the new boot split and fell off about 6 months later. I used another I had from the new part I had for the other side but had not installed yet. 2 months later it split and fell off. I called Moog and they sent me 4 extra's in a box. 6 years later I am using an aftermarket urethane boot because all of the Moog stuff is long gone. I still have a good original tie rod on the other side and it is still using the original GM boot. Something is wrong when you have to pay as much as you do for "quality" parts and end up with junk like that! __________________ Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

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