ball joint help sought
02-24-2011, 07:31 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
ball joint help sought
Vehicle: '09 C6Z
Since I will have the control arms out to replace the bearings, I thought it would make sense to replace the ball joints at the same time.
I talked to Pfadt and they sell a front lower only, which is lash adjustable and (they claim) impervious to heat. (At one time they said they were going to come out with an upper, but Rob at Pfadt confirms that they have abandoned that effort to work on other projects.) Pfadt also contends that there is no need to replace the other ball joints -- only the front lowers because they are the ones exposed to heat. (Of course, this begs the question of why, when Pfadt released the lower, they said they were going to also offer a upper.)
In another thread, some posters touted the Moog ball joints as being a quality product at a lower price than the Pfadt. Some questions:
1. Is the Moog lash adjustable like the Pfadt?
2. Is the Moog any more resistant to heat than the OEM ball joint?
3. Rock Auto stocks the Moog front lowers only, part number K6537. Does Moog make a front upper and upper and lower rears and, if so, what are the part numbers? (The person I spoke to at RA did not know and was not helpful.)
4. What part of the ball joint is damaged by heat? Obviously, the boot can melt and expose the joint to dirt infiltration, but the Pfadt ball joint does not come with a boot. So what makes the Pfadt more resistant to heat damage?
5. Any other options/considerations for replacing the OEM ball joints? What am I missing here?
Thanks, Andy
Since I will have the control arms out to replace the bearings, I thought it would make sense to replace the ball joints at the same time.
I talked to Pfadt and they sell a front lower only, which is lash adjustable and (they claim) impervious to heat. (At one time they said they were going to come out with an upper, but Rob at Pfadt confirms that they have abandoned that effort to work on other projects.) Pfadt also contends that there is no need to replace the other ball joints -- only the front lowers because they are the ones exposed to heat. (Of course, this begs the question of why, when Pfadt released the lower, they said they were going to also offer a upper.)
In another thread, some posters touted the Moog ball joints as being a quality product at a lower price than the Pfadt. Some questions:
1. Is the Moog lash adjustable like the Pfadt?
2. Is the Moog any more resistant to heat than the OEM ball joint?
3. Rock Auto stocks the Moog front lowers only, part number K6537. Does Moog make a front upper and upper and lower rears and, if so, what are the part numbers? (The person I spoke to at RA did not know and was not helpful.)
4. What part of the ball joint is damaged by heat? Obviously, the boot can melt and expose the joint to dirt infiltration, but the Pfadt ball joint does not come with a boot. So what makes the Pfadt more resistant to heat damage?
5. Any other options/considerations for replacing the OEM ball joints? What am I missing here?
Thanks, Andy
02-24-2011, 10:38 PM
#3
02-25-2011, 08:01 AM
#4
Race Director
Vehicle: '09 C6Z
Since I will have the control arms out to replace the bearings, I thought it would make sense to replace the ball joints at the same time.
I talked to Pfadt and they sell a front lower only, which is lash adjustable and (they claim) impervious to heat. (At one time they said they were going to come out with an upper, but Rob at Pfadt confirms that they have abandoned that effort to work on other projects.) Pfadt also contends that there is no need to replace the other ball joints -- only the front lowers because they are the ones exposed to heat. (Of course, this begs the question of why, when Pfadt released the lower, they said they were going to also offer a upper.)
In another thread, some posters touted the Moog ball joints as being a quality product at a lower price than the Pfadt. Some questions:
1. Is the Moog lash adjustable like the Pfadt?
2. Is the Moog any more resistant to heat than the OEM ball joint?
3. Rock Auto stocks the Moog front lowers only, part number K6537. Does Moog make a front upper and upper and lower rears and, if so, what are the part numbers? (The person I spoke to at RA did not know and was not helpful.)
4. What part of the ball joint is damaged by heat? Obviously, the boot can melt and expose the joint to dirt infiltration, but the Pfadt ball joint does not come with a boot. So what makes the Pfadt more resistant to heat damage?
5. Any other options/considerations for replacing the OEM ball joints? What am I missing here?
Thanks, Andy
Since I will have the control arms out to replace the bearings, I thought it would make sense to replace the ball joints at the same time.
I talked to Pfadt and they sell a front lower only, which is lash adjustable and (they claim) impervious to heat. (At one time they said they were going to come out with an upper, but Rob at Pfadt confirms that they have abandoned that effort to work on other projects.) Pfadt also contends that there is no need to replace the other ball joints -- only the front lowers because they are the ones exposed to heat. (Of course, this begs the question of why, when Pfadt released the lower, they said they were going to also offer a upper.)
In another thread, some posters touted the Moog ball joints as being a quality product at a lower price than the Pfadt. Some questions:
1. Is the Moog lash adjustable like the Pfadt?
2. Is the Moog any more resistant to heat than the OEM ball joint?
3. Rock Auto stocks the Moog front lowers only, part number K6537. Does Moog make a front upper and upper and lower rears and, if so, what are the part numbers? (The person I spoke to at RA did not know and was not helpful.)
4. What part of the ball joint is damaged by heat? Obviously, the boot can melt and expose the joint to dirt infiltration, but the Pfadt ball joint does not come with a boot. So what makes the Pfadt more resistant to heat damage?
5. Any other options/considerations for replacing the OEM ball joints? What am I missing here?
Thanks, Andy
- No, they do not have a lash adjustment.
- Typically the boot is damaged and the grease gets hot.
- The Pfadts as does the Moog's have grease fittings that allow you to add grease as needed.
