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Ball Joint Fitment

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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 01:20 PM
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Default Ball Joint Fitment

I am completely rebuilding my front suspension. I picked up the major rebuild kit from Willcox along with some Moog springs. When I started attaching the spindles I noticed they are either traveling further up the ball joint, or the shaft is longer. As you can see in the pics, I just barely snugged up the bottom nut and I have no problem inserting the cotter pin. Once I torque it I have a feeling the pin will be completely below the nut. The other pic shows the top ball joint and you can see the hole their is already too low as well. Anyone else experienced this with new ball joints? Unfortunately I didn't keep my old joints when I removed them, to compare shaft lengths. Learning example on my part I guess. I wonder if I should just insert some grade 8 spacers on the shaft before putting the nut on?


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Old Sep 16, 2018 | 02:30 PM
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Yup slip a good steel washer under that nut to make sure the cotter pin engages the nut nicely.....almost sounds sexy, but I can't think of the better terms to use.....

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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 11:59 AM
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what are the part numbers of the ball joints?
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by MelWff
what are the part numbers of the ball joints?
They came in a kit from Willcox, part number SU00A. The link is https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...thane-usa-made.

When I get home from work I'll check the individual packaging to see if they have there own part numbers.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 05:45 PM
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Here's the original ball joint on my '77:



This is the replacement Moog from Rock Auto:



I'd say you have an incorrect ball joint.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 06:30 PM
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So I went out and looked at the packaging and my shipping slip I received when I bought the kit. Although I ordered from Willcox, it looks like it actually came from Volunteer Vette Products. The lower ball joint part number was listed as SU03 and the upper as SU02, which matches with the products on the VVP's website.
https://www.volvette.com/SU02.html
https://www.volvette.com/SU03.html
Looking at the upper ball joint, the only number I can make out now that it's installed is on the boot and I think it says 3516246B.
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Old Sep 17, 2018 | 09:21 PM
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wrong balljoints, I just installed aftermarket control arms that fit the spindle perfectly...call em in the morning and tell em whats wrong, Willcox is great to work with.

not the best pics of the nuts, but that's what I had in my phone without going down to the shop to take pics of them, but they all 4 went in perfectly like they should




Last edited by naramlee; Sep 17, 2018 at 09:29 PM.
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Old Sep 18, 2018 | 02:11 PM
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Yeah, I guess I'll have to talk to Willcox and see what they say. They bolted up perfectly to the control arms though. It definitely just seems that the shaft might be slightly too long. It looks like one washer would be all I need to fit the nut correctly.

Last edited by dyanisis2; Sep 18, 2018 at 02:12 PM.
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Old Sep 18, 2018 | 06:29 PM
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I have been through this same exact issue and I had to use a flat washer to take up the difference.

DUB
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Old Sep 18, 2018 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DUB
I have been through this same exact issue and I had to use a flat washer to take up the difference.

DUB
Yeah, as I look at it. I think I'm good. The washer seemed to work well.



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Old Sep 18, 2018 | 07:10 PM
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What is CRYING SHAME here is that these parts cannot be made correctly so we do not have to deal with this issue. I swear that complaining about it would fall on deaf ears due to the 'fix' is so easy and we should just get over it. 'Stuff' like this is what makes me shake my head an wonder what this world is coming to.

DUB
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