Re-buildable top ball joints

[xvivalve]

I'm trying to ascertain how many members have these and how many units exist.

The repair kits are now dwindling in supply. The occasional one passes through ebay, but the likes of Parts4Triumph now buy them from Rimmers and they carry a hefty price tag, nearly as much as a repro non rebuildable joint costs.

I have approached a local engineering firm who are confident they can faithfully replicate the kit of parts, but as ever economy of scale comes into play. I have asked them to make a sample kit with which I will rebuild one of my units to check that the tolerances are correct, if so I intend to commission a run but the question is how many? I have 9 core rebuildable ball joints myself; how many do you have?

Target price is £30+, which is high compared to ebay kit prices (I missed one this last week that went for not much at all) but comparable to what a complete top ball joint often reaches on the rare occasion they are advertised. It is also approximately half what a repro ball joint would cost from mainstream suppliers.

If you aren't interested in rebuilding yourself, but have core, please send them to me...

This is a highly consumable item and supply is imperative to keep all RWD models roadworthy.

[Jon Tilson]

I try and keep all my cars with rebuildable ones, so thats 3 sets every 2 years for the forseeable...

Jonners

[whydidistartthis]

I have a pair of re-buildable ones. They are currently spares, but will no doubt be needed one day!

[2dollys]

I have a pair of rebuildable top joints,and a pair of bottom rebuildable also,on a subfrrame that I bought for a spare. PJB

[Lord Tolly]

quick question being a novice how do you tell if they are rebuildable?

[mahony]

quick question being a novice how do you tell if they are rebuildable?

They have a bolt through the top of the joint

[Oli_88]

I have one re-buildable one. Probably going to swap it out for a new normal one soon...

[Howiesprint]

I have a pair of re-buildable on mine and no spare kits. Will need some in the future.

[Dolly-Nut]

I have 4 but no kits.

[xvivalve]

I have only ever seen one rebuildable bottom joint! Kits for the bottom joints seem plentiful by comparison which is no surprise!!

[KWM338R]

I believe I have a pair of top rebuildable joints.

Cheers
Mark

[mikeybish]

God knows where they all are but I've been stashing re-buildable top and bottom joints for years. Have also managed to accumulate an fair few re-build kits for both, thankfully mostly from back in the days when they could be picked up at autojumbles for a couple of quid!

Of course the kits are invaluable for recovering knackered 1300fwd joints too.

Have re-built several top balls over time, have also kept a couple going longer by just adding extra shims, maybe it's worth the club sourcing shims (and possibly rubber boots now they are an MOT fail) as if your metal ball is not corroded and the nylon cup not worn through, a re-shim may be all that is needed! Never had a bottom one apart yet though!

Rebuildable top joints can be confirmed by lifting the rubber boot, if there is a large circlip underneath then it's core stock, don't throw it away!

Rebuildable bottoms have Stanpart on them

[tinweevil]

2 on the rapidly dissolving orange thing, some more in stock. Last rebuilt the 2 on the car now and stated at the time it was 'a faff I'll not bother with again' but would if good quality kits were available. The faff was down to getting cheap kit parts to fit.

[Magenta Auto Sprint]

My sprint auto has 2 top rebuildable joints as does my 73 1850 auto.

I agree with Mikeybish, i took my ball joints aparts, cleaned and inspected for wear etc. One just need 5 thou shim and is as good as new, while the other one needed a new ball pin due to moisture ingress.

I have also rebuilt many top ball joints for minis too over the years and the one thing i always did on those was to use a small amount for valve grinding paste in the top cup to just take off the high spots between the cup and the ball pin.

[xvivalve]

I'm slightly premature here folks. Spoke to Mr Fitchett today who tells me they have healthy stock of kits at £22.50 plus VAT per side