Top Balljoint shims - has anyone got any?
Discussion
Will the shims not vary in thickness, car to car, because that's what adjusts the wheel castor? Will the old shims be right if you strip and rebuild the front suspension? I thought that was the whole reason that the shims are there, not that the balljoint simply doesn't fit the wishbone properly.
They are listed on here: http://www.tvrspareparts.com/cars/11-s--series.htm... part C0948 but I'm not convinced that they are right for the S. The ones on mine are much thinner than the 3mm quoted.
Best way forward is to measure the wishbone and joint and work out what you need to get a nice snug fit and make some up. Like tvrgit I suspect that they may vary from car to car. You should be able to scavenge some suitable material from the scrap bin of a local sheet metal shop.
K
Best way forward is to measure the wishbone and joint and work out what you need to get a nice snug fit and make some up. Like tvrgit I suspect that they may vary from car to car. You should be able to scavenge some suitable material from the scrap bin of a local sheet metal shop.
K
I'm not clear what the shims are for exactly - but I know all four of mine were the same - and there was one each side of the balljoint on both sides which overall makes it the width of the upper ball joint housing.
There's no way they are 3mm thick though as above (link didn't work by the way - but I entered the part no and it came up)
I'll try and get a bit of scrap steel otherwise I'll drop you an email Richard.
Chris
There's no way they are 3mm thick though as above (link didn't work by the way - but I entered the part no and it came up)
I'll try and get a bit of scrap steel otherwise I'll drop you an email Richard.
Chris
Chris, Me too, all four the same and fitted either side of the balljoint, and much less than 3mm thick. At a rough guess I'd say they are around 1mm.
I think they are just packing pieces. Could be to adjust castor but I think that would only be to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in the chassis and wishbones. With 1mm shims for example there's less than +/-0.5deg of adjustment.
The scrap bin is probably the best source. Failing that perhaps take a look at some of the bulders metalwork, wallplates, hangers etc, in B&Q. I'm sure you'll get it sorted. Careful when you drill it though, big holes in thin sheet can be difficult to do.
K
I think they are just packing pieces. Could be to adjust castor but I think that would only be to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in the chassis and wishbones. With 1mm shims for example there's less than +/-0.5deg of adjustment.
The scrap bin is probably the best source. Failing that perhaps take a look at some of the bulders metalwork, wallplates, hangers etc, in B&Q. I'm sure you'll get it sorted. Careful when you drill it though, big holes in thin sheet can be difficult to do.
K
What happened was I used the fork type balljoint splitter to seperate the top balljoint from the hub - it was a git to get apart but I finally managed it.
When it was seperated it was covered in the grease from inside the joint - so I thought I'd just chuck it in the bin. It had the bolts fitted into the balljoint aswell - but as I'd bought the Steve Heath suspension bolt kit which includes the top balljoint bolts I thought I'd just chuck the lot away.
I forgot the shims were on there aswell - what a dimbo.
To add insult to injury the top balljoint bolts in the Steve Heath kit are the wrong size.
So I need some of those aswell
.
A friends parents has a fasteners company so hopefully they will sort me out - I've emailed Steve Heath but no reply yet.
Chris
When it was seperated it was covered in the grease from inside the joint - so I thought I'd just chuck it in the bin. It had the bolts fitted into the balljoint aswell - but as I'd bought the Steve Heath suspension bolt kit which includes the top balljoint bolts I thought I'd just chuck the lot away.
I forgot the shims were on there aswell - what a dimbo.
To add insult to injury the top balljoint bolts in the Steve Heath kit are the wrong size.
So I need some of those aswell
.A friends parents has a fasteners company so hopefully they will sort me out - I've emailed Steve Heath but no reply yet.
Chris
GreenV8S said:
Barkychoc said:
I thought I'd just chuck the lot away.
Never ever chuck anything away.
PS I always seem to need a bigger garage ...
Thats what it is, never realised it really but mines full of old removed items of crapBarkychoc said:
To add insult to injury the top balljoint bolts in the Steve Heath kit are the wrong size.
So I need some of those aswell.
Chris: four replacement bolts nylocs and washers went in the post first class yesterday. Sorry I should have let you know. So I need some of those aswell
.The issue with the top ball joint bolt size is that a few cars appear to have different ball joints fitted which have different (smaller) diameter holes.
Edited by shpub on Thursday 3rd July 12:34
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