mikuni Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Does any one know of a place that makes custom balljoints? I'm not sure how best to go about it, whether I need to get something machined up and get them to put it together, or whether they can actually make what I need themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camel Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 there is a place in auckland that rebuilds them and im pretty sure if you supplied details they could mash some shit together. I got my ms55 ones done there, i sent them through camelot but its another crowd that do it so if you can find out will be cheaper than with camelots charge on top. think ive got it written down somewhere will have a geeze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikuni Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 That would be cool if you could suss those details. I remembered you had those MS55 ones rebuild. I seem to remember you had it done through BNT? Maybe I should go and see the ins and outs with them first. Also have managed to find some pictures of what I'm wanting to do. They seem to do it in the states a lot, so thats promising. Hopefully people won't think I'm stupid for trying it. I have a standard lower ball joint like this. And I want to have an extended shaft like this made up, then have the ball joint rebuild with this shaft in it. It is effectively creating a drop spindle without the need to piss around with the hub itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 so all you need is the bottom example? know of some engineers in morrinsville that would cnc that up piss easy, draw it and i can get you a quote oh and then they would probably mash it back together for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikuni Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 I don't have the drawing capability to draw it do a cnc-able level. If I just gave them the ball joint and said extend this so its 75mm longer do you think they'd be keen? Also whats the name of the place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 BLM engineering, Have a sweet machine shop and a massive fab shop, build meatworks machines, dairy factory stuff and also big iso tanks for peroxide an shit to go on trains ships etc BLMNZ.com gf's old man owns it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy_rich Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 yo, cant help but I'm keen to hear how this works out for you, could be a good way to correct roll centre in lowered old fords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Also, failing BNT, try autolighn. Or George stocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spencer Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 yo, cant help but I'm keen to hear how this works out for you, could be a good way to correct roll centre in lowered old fords. Yea dude, same thing for FWD stuff. There are a few people on here who could CAD that up for you no worries, split the ball-joint you want elongated, send it to them and say "hey boe cad this then make it x longer in the shaft, here's some beers". I would also be down for this but haven't used solid works since uni, so 3+ years, need to get a copy again really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock-Lee Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 yuh If you want it drawn up flick us a pm with rough sketch with dimensions etc. will be able to knock it out in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thminiman Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 I imagine this is legit, but to me it looks as if its creating a bit of a weak point, when its short the strait section is quite short, then adding however much to it seems it should be made stronger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spencer Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Yea to me it could be a weak point, mine would be track only, but would epically suck for it to break Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eke_zetec_RWD Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 is it strut suspension? does the steering arm bolt up on down into the taper? this will need changing also. or rack repositioned. if its strut then i would recomend a pillow ball (??) like a rose joint end. retained in a sleve that threads into factory ball joint location. then a tapered shaft to fill the gap. much eaiser to change roll center. make it with shims/double nuts ect to adjust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikuni Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Yeah, its just a relatively conventional front wheel drive mcpherson strut setup, with a ball joint fixed in the lower control arm similar to below. People overseas run a ball joint extension on similar setups but my struts don't really allow this. I've had a think about a few of the options I have and I think this is going to be the one that involves the least amount of fabrication for the desired result. if its strut then i would recomend a pillow ball (??) like a rose joint end. retained in a sleve that threads into factory ball joint location. then a tapered shaft to fill the gap. much eaiser to change roll center. make it with shims/double nuts ect to adjust Thats a nice suggestion. I think I'll look into that because it uses existing parts and allows more adjustment if it isn't quite setup right in its first incarnation. The Saab lower control arms that I was going to use wouldn't be suitable for this, and I don't think the Vectra ones would be that good either, although I do know someone who might be able to make up a pair of custom lower arms for me with given specs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJZ Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 HBI Engineering in Christchurch rebuild balljoints and whatnot, maybe give them a holla? http://www.hbiengineering.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Russell Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 yo, cant help but I'm keen to hear how this works out for you, could be a good way to correct roll centre in lowered old fords. Was going to say the same thing! very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy_rich Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 For use on the road I'd imagine this would need design/material cert, It would need to be case hardened to extend the life of the ball too. Using rose joints to lower the steering rack tie rod end is relatively easy, but most the time it gets a bit dodgy modifying cast or forged control arms to accept one, hence why those adjustable camber control arms are very hard if not impossible to certify for road use. Still very interested. For a race car this could be a very useful trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eke_zetec_RWD Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 For use on the road I'd imagine this would need design/material cert, It would need to be case hardened to extend the life of the ball too. Using rose joints to lower the steering rack tie rod end is relatively easy, but most the time it gets a bit dodgy modifying cast or forged control arms to accept one, hence why those adjustable camber control arms are very hard if not impossible to certify for road use. Still very interested. For a race car this could be a very useful trick. i didnt mean use a rose joint. but a spherical bearing mounted in a housing thats held into the arm in the same way as a factory ball joint is. no welding or dodgy parts. just some clever machining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spencer Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 ^ ah yes thats probably the ticket, then you can make it quite beefy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy_rich Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 oh yup, gotcha now, that would be the ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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