Ball Joint Size

[pte123]

Hi All,

I'm refreshing my suspension on the '91 Elan. I purchased all of the parts from SWLC which I had shipped over to the US.

Getting the old bushings off was a nightmare that took two weekends of my life I'll never get back. I'm over that hurdle now BUT in trying to fit the lower ball joint I'm finding the new ball joint seems to be bigger than the hole in the lower arm.

I know it's an interference fit, but in measuring I'm getting 43.4mm for the ball joint and the hole is about 41mm. This seems more than just putting it in the shop press. Anyone run into this problem?

This was the ball joint. https://shop.swlcperformance.com/produc ... joint-copy (not the URL says upper, but the page is actually for the lower). I've tried both that I purchased and similar problem.

I've got the ball joint in the freezer at the moment but 2+mm seems like a lot.

Thoughts?

[pte123]

I tried to press the ball joint into the lower suspension arm to no avail. the material on the ball joint is rolling on itself. Does anyone have any thoughts other than taking this to a machine shop? I don't know whether I have an incorrect ball joint from SWLC. It seems like the one on the website and both of them that I ordered are the same.

[TorqueHorse]

Do you have the old ball joint that you pressed out? That would be the easiest check to see if there is a difference. Photos also help too. I don't know how, but maybe if you left part of the old ball joint still in the suspension arm, that could be taking up space? The link you shared to the ball joint you bought looks just like the one I purchased a couple years back.

When you say it is "rolling on itself" I don't understand. Maybe a photo of your setup and how you are pressing the new one in?
Since the top of the control arm isn't flat, relative to the bottom, I cut a length of pipe (with the same inner diameter of the ball joint hole) to the opposite angle, so that the press stays flat, and isn't putting any force on the joint at an angle. I've since lost that widget, or I'd attach a photo to illustrate.

[pte123]

Thanks Matt, Appreciate your response and assistance.

Here are a few photos of the items. You can see from the ball joint that the metal is being pushed back by trying to be pushed into the hole in the suspension.

I can't find the old ball joint that I pressed out, but it definitely was in one piece and even had the 'ribs' on the side that enable the interference fit. I did measure the old one (before I lost it!!) and it was a good 3-4 mm smaller in diameter. There definitely isn't any remaining ball joint in the hole (see picture).

My only other thought is either to take it to a machine shop or to grind away the ball joint to make it fit.

IMG_1489 Medium.jpeg

IMG_1490 Medium.jpeg

IMG_1491 Medium.jpeg

[TorqueHorse]

That's crazy, hmm. Did you get them from SWLC? If so, (I believe)Mike Hopes is the sales rep there and he is always helpful. I'd contact them with those photos and your dilemma and see if they have any advice (maybe they changed supplier recently, etc.). I can't remember where I got mine. Could have been them, or PNM, or SJ. That's the other alternative is get another one (or two) from somebody else and see if there is a difference.

[pte123]

Thanks Matt.

Yes, it's very odd.

I just emailed Mike at SWLC to see if something changed.

If I look at the same part on SJS it does look narrower (or maybe that's my wishful thinking!)

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and- ... C6020F.htm