Need help with Speed Direct POS ball joint boot.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
Need help with Speed Direct POS ball joint boot.
I bought the aluminum front upper A-Arm from Speed Direct. Everything looks very nice and the instructions are even pretty good. That is until I got to actually connecting the upper ball joint to the steering knuckle. The ball joint has a rubber boot that fits the ball joint stud pretty well, but is way too big to fit on the ball joint body. So I called Speed Direct and they said this is normal and that I should just use the included wire-tie. Personally, I'm embarrassed about this setup.
Has any one else found a better solution this problem? Is there a place that sells ball joint boots?
Thanks,
John
Has any one else found a better solution this problem? Is there a place that sells ball joint boots?
Thanks,
John
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
Yea... NO!!!
I am guessing they bought a pile of covers in bulk and just send them out with each kit.
I would get a better boot that fit snug. It not only helps keep grease in but helps keep most dirt/trash out.
I am guessing they bought a pile of covers in bulk and just send them out with each kit.
I would get a better boot that fit snug. It not only helps keep grease in but helps keep most dirt/trash out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Looks like you bought the "race" upper ball joint. It's made for circle track cars by Howe I think, racers don't run boots but, Speed Direct should do a better job of making parts work for the $$$ they charge for their parts.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
So Speed Direct just opened a case of self degradation.
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From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
Batman,
Energy Suspension makes poly ball joint/tie rod boots.
I briefly looked at some boots by Energy Suspension but thought they would be too stiff and not seal like a rubber boot. Have you used or seen them being used on a ball joint? I would pursue this if someone had experience with a poly boot and said that they work ok on the street.
I'm hoping that someone who has installed this upper A-Arm will chime in with how they handled the ball joint boot.
Thanks for the replies,
John
Energy Suspension makes poly ball joint/tie rod boots.
I briefly looked at some boots by Energy Suspension but thought they would be too stiff and not seal like a rubber boot. Have you used or seen them being used on a ball joint? I would pursue this if someone had experience with a poly boot and said that they work ok on the street.
I'm hoping that someone who has installed this upper A-Arm will chime in with how they handled the ball joint boot.
Thanks for the replies,
John
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,019
Likes: 2,262
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
I know they keep an eye on this site and they have some good folks over there. I think *Burners* is who you should shoot a PM to and see if he can help.
JIM
JIM
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Batman,
Energy Suspension makes poly ball joint/tie rod boots.
I briefly looked at some boots by Energy Suspension but thought they would be too stiff and not seal like a rubber boot. Have you used or seen them being used on a ball joint? I would pursue this if someone had experience with a poly boot and said that they work ok on the street.
I'm hoping that someone who has installed this upper A-Arm will chime in with how they handled the ball joint boot.
Thanks for the replies,
John
Energy Suspension makes poly ball joint/tie rod boots.
I briefly looked at some boots by Energy Suspension but thought they would be too stiff and not seal like a rubber boot. Have you used or seen them being used on a ball joint? I would pursue this if someone had experience with a poly boot and said that they work ok on the street.
I'm hoping that someone who has installed this upper A-Arm will chime in with how they handled the ball joint boot.
Thanks for the replies,
John
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
Generally circle track guys don't bother with boots on the ball joints,we don't run in the rain or thousands of miles in other conditions that street cars see.Hmmm,wait a minute-that also applies to about 98% of the cars on this forum,maybe those little pieces of rubbery boots are not so important after all...
