Upper ball joint question

[Henrik]

The swaged part that keeps my upper ball joints in place are not even and round as I would have expected, but more like wave shaped - see pictures. It's the same on both upper ball joints. Other than that there is no play, stickiness or any other obvious signs of wear.

So, is the wave shape the result of excessive suspension travel i.e. wear or was it ground that way to allow for proper movement?

Replace or reinstall?

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[PJ Grady Inc.]

It looks like collision damage to me. In my experience the arm would have been bent for the ball seat to be distorted like that. Perhaps they were transfered from damaged control arms? I would replace both. Were they riveted or bolted into place?
Rob

[Delorean Industries]

Definitely replace. We started using Ed Uding's stronger joints on all of our service work and build cars. Well worth the investment. We stock these but you can always get directly through Edward.

[Henrik]

It looks like collision damage to me. In my experience the arm would have been bent for the ball seat to be distorted like that. Perhaps they were transfered from damaged control arms? I would replace both. Were they riveted or bolted into place?
Rob

Great input - thanks.

Both UCAs are straight as an arrow. The right side LCA was indeed slightly bent backwards (I have bought new LCAs for both sides) but not really enough to cause the upper ball joints to be bashed up like this. The right side UBJ (with the bent LCA) was riveted in place but the left side UBJ (LCA was OK) was bolted in.

I certainly will replace both.

[Henrik]

Definitely replace. We started using Ed Uding's stronger joints on all of our service work and build cars. Well worth the investment. We stock these but you can always get directly through Edward.

Great to hear from both Rob and now Josh that these upper ball joints are trash. Will order new ones.

[Josh]

Henrik,

Slightly a tangent from the thread but would you be able to measure out the hole pattern on the ball joint for me?

It is for... a science experiment...

[Henrik]

Henrik,

Slightly a tangent from the thread but would you be able to measure out the hole pattern on the ball joint for me?

It is for... a science experiment...

Sure! Today or tomorrow.

[Henrik]

Definitely replace. We started using Ed Uding's stronger joints on all of our service work and build cars. Well worth the investment. We stock these but you can always get directly through Edward.

So Ed's ball joints are different from the standard ball joints supplied by the DMC network in the US? If so, in what way?

Well, lucky me: I just purchased a new set of LCAs from Ed and they came pre-installed with his lower ball joints so I guess I got the beefier ones by coincidence... So now I just have to buy a set of upper ball joints from Ed.

BTW, not sure in what sense Ed's ball joints are "stronger" but they sure are STIFF!!!. Can't even move them by brute force. Ed tells me that it is OK and that it will be just fine once installed on the car... True or BS?

[Josh]

Thanks! no rush at all.

It was my understanding that all the delorean vendors (excluding Special T) stock the dmceu lower ball joints. They have proven themselves to be the best.
They certainly are stiff out of the box but they will wear in. Not a major concern.

[Chris 16409]

From what I know, Ed Uding's lower ball joints are different from the UK eurotec club ball joints. The US DMC shops have been stocking the UK Eurotec club ball joints.