Wandering c3 Vette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
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Ok I got everything done new bushings shocks ball joint I mean Everything.. Car drives good but I took it to a alignment shop and they said I have play from side to side in my new ball joints.. So I put another set in and wouldn't you know it still play in the ball joint.. I can feel it under a high speed.. Is the play normal? There is no up and down play just side to side.. ??? What the heck???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
I got my Vette out another mechanic and he noticed the valve on the center link has a bit of play in it.. It is a new valve and I don't know if there is supposed to be a touch of play in it or not.. Does anyone know how much play should be in the valve connected to the Pittman arm?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 45
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Balljoint play
I got under the car with him and he moved each balljoint 3/16" with a pry bar.. have no idea how a company like napa can make such junk!! This is the third set I put in with the same problem!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
What brand did you buy? From all the discussion on this Forum about bad ball joints, it would appear that MOOG joints are the only ones that can be "trusted" as a quality part. Having to change ball joints is bad enough; having to change them because they are "junk" is even worse! Call the manager at NAPA and relay the history of your problem. Either the ball joints are junk or you are not getting them installed properly (bolted joints not tight?).
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Prairieville Louisiana
Bad shock on rear will do that
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 45
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What brand did you buy? From all the discussion on this Forum about bad ball joints, it would appear that MOOG joints are the only ones that can be "trusted" as a quality part. Having to change ball joints is bad enough; having to change them because they are "junk" is even worse! Call the manager at NAPA and relay the history of your problem. Either the ball joints are junk or you are not getting them installed properly (bolted joints not tight?).
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You have all the evidence you need to make a case with NAPA to recover your labor expenses. You just need to get the repair and alignment guys to complete an "Affidavit" and document the fault was in the NAPA joints. If you've already returned the joints to NAPA, just get some signed scrap of paper [from the person you returned them to] showing he received them from you.
Hopefully, you can send the NAPA 'brass' a registered letter stating your case and they will come through with a settlement for your labor losses. Send only copies of your documentation to them; keep the originals yourself. If they don't "make it right", that same documentation should go to an attorney and a suit should be filed. The only way to change "bad" behavior these days is to hit them where it hurts...the wallet.
NAPA has been one of the better parts suppliers, as far as I am concerned; but with all the low-priced junk the other vendors sell, maybe they have decided to do the same thing. Your situation is very disturbing...and we will probably hear more stories like it in the near future.
Hopefully, you can send the NAPA 'brass' a registered letter stating your case and they will come through with a settlement for your labor losses. Send only copies of your documentation to them; keep the originals yourself. If they don't "make it right", that same documentation should go to an attorney and a suit should be filed. The only way to change "bad" behavior these days is to hit them where it hurts...the wallet.
NAPA has been one of the better parts suppliers, as far as I am concerned; but with all the low-priced junk the other vendors sell, maybe they have decided to do the same thing. Your situation is very disturbing...and we will probably hear more stories like it in the near future.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
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I hope so cuz I am having a Hell of a time withthe labor claim on it now.. they are trying to discourage me with paperwork and all that crap to make me think its not worth it!!!!! I used to work for napa so I know the drill and all their secrets don't let them fool you.. H.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
If they're giving you the "run-around", you have no viable option but to file a lawsuit. You can file a Small-claims suit locally (don't know what the limit of judgement is there) or you can hand it off to an attorney. If you do the latter, and you win the case, the attorney's fees should be included in the suit and the settlement. If your NAPA store gets served with a suit, they will likely settle with you to limit the damages. If you have the affidavits signed & notarized, I don't see how you can lose.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I have no idea how you [or your "mechanic"] are checking 'play', but you are obviously doing something wrong. Please describe the procedure you are using so we can advise you better. Where are you applying force? ...in which directions? ...what are your criteria for 'play' in the system?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
That sounds more like bearings than ball joints. Ball joint wear is visible from the outside. Since you just put new ones on there shouldn't be any play in them.
Did someone actually observe them moving when you put the lever under the tires?
Also, if you did observe them moving, is there any chance that whoever removed the original ball joints messed up the holes and unintentionally enlarged them?
cc
Did someone actually observe them moving when you put the lever under the tires?
Also, if you did observe them moving, is there any chance that whoever removed the original ball joints messed up the holes and unintentionally enlarged them?
cc
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
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Yes they observed the ball joints movement.. the bearings are tight.. I am at a loss.. Don't know how 3 sets of ball joints are bad.. The holes on the control arms aren't oblonged either.. I had them check for that the last time...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
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I finally Got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the stupid *** Shims between the bearings in the trailing arms.. I put thousands into this cars suspension and put in a rack n pinion and it turned out to be nothing but the shims.. Maybe I should shoot my mechanic... lol joking....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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What you're feeling is a massive toe change in the rear tires. And the primary components which resists that toe change are the trailing arm bushings.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
I finally Got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the stupid *** Shims between the bearings in the trailing arms.. I put thousands into this cars suspension and put in a rack n pinion and it turned out to be nothing but the shims.. Maybe I should shoot my mechanic... lol joking....
Ok ... seriously ... get your fuggin' money back, and never go to that shop again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
I finally Got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the stupid *** Shims between the bearings in the trailing arms.. I put thousands into this cars suspension and put in a rack n pinion and it turned out to be nothing but the shims.. Maybe I should shoot my mechanic... lol joking....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
I'm glad you found the problem. I was reading through all the posts and was going to suggest the "A" arms on the front. I pulled a vette out of storage and was driving it home. Something wasn't right and it was pulling to the left and darting right. I pulled over and then BANG! Something came loose and the car pulled real hard to the left. I was just pulled off the ramp from highway speeds. I limped back into a burger joint and found the upper "A" arm bolts were loose and one missing. Thank God I had the "feeling" and was slowed down to 25 mph first. I had just left an alignment shop and they gave me the OK to drive it and told me it was just worn. Talk about wanting to bitch slap a mechanic.
Last edited by builder; Apr 8, 2010 at 09:13 AM.
