Ball Joints! any alternatives fit?

[Mark Headling]

I have been racing tonight at Maritime and had a rubbish night with ball joints popping off! had 1 of the rear camber links come off in rd 2, and a steering link come off in finals.

I know you should not hit things!!... but these were not a hard impact crash, my xray and TC5 could take a real beating and never let me down.

Just wondered if any other make of ball joint fit that are less likely to pop off?
Xray perhaps?

If you have part no's that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[timmay langdell]

i use standard ball joints with the titanium ball studs never had a prob with them. :)

[scoyle]

I have never had problems with them popping off when crashing although I did for a while have problems adjusting them (i.e adjusting camber etc.). I ended up re-threading them all and added a bit of oil to make them easier to turn.

But back to your problem... a few people have moved to XRay parts - you need the plastic ends, the balls and screws - I have all three at home and will try and post part no.s tonight for you.

[mr4man]

i had a car where someone had done this mod as scoyles suggested and it makes the cars suspension very very stiff tbh.

[Mark Headling]

i have ordered xray 5mm open ball joints XR 302663 and open ball joints that I can put m3 bolt through on bulk heads etc part no XR 302652 and short ball studs for the steering bell crank XR 307455, this should do it I reckon!

Will report back once I have done the mods.

[jo90]

To be honest I have never had this happen. The joints at first are a tight fit, but some very careful fettling with a pair of pliers will see them loose enough for movement, but tough enough to stay on in a hit.

[Mark Headling]

I have seen quite a few at the club pop off, so going to give the xray ones a go!

[IanB]

Only ever had one come off before and that was after a very heavy impact but in doing that it did save the c hub and wishbone.
Other than that have never had a problem with them.

[Brewer95]

I have to admit that ive never had one come off on the track. Only ever poped one by accident when adjusting the rear camber. They where quite tight to begin with but after a bit of gentle squashing they where fine.

[scoyle]

Mark, the part numbers that I have are;

302663 T2 composite ball joint 5mm - Open (8)
307455 T2 pivot ball 5mm double bevel shoulders (10)
903310 Hex screws SFH M3x10

Like I said bought and never used as I found the Serpent ones were fine

[terryh]

When I first built the car I found the ball joints were very tight causing them to pop off easily. I used a 3mm tap on the balljoints, right hand and left hand tap and lubed them with black grease, never had one pop off since.

[shawn]

I know exactly where you are coming from Mark. Mine would come off on the odd occasion and normally when doing well.
After changing to the Xray alternatives I have not had a problem.
You will find though you can't fit them to the outer front on top of tge c' hub because the in not enough clearence and also the steering crank. The arms are too close to the pivot blocks...
If you find something for there though let me know please because my boy has had steering arm pop off on a couple of occasions now on his.

[Mark Headling]

Right they do work, on the rear just replace the ball links with the xray ones, and push in the 5mm open ball joints in and put m3x10mm hex button head screws in, they are a bit close to the inner part of wheel but you could grind a small bit off side of bolt.

Steering Ball links, put the 5.0mm ball joints on to servo saver and run the open ended ones on the hubs, I used a m3x8mm into the hub.

Front camber links, i used the 5.0mm xray ones on the inner link onto bulk head but there is not room to use this on the hub end so just had to run std serpent ones.

I have not run it yet but camber adjustment is easy as no links popping off!

Hope this helps,