Roadster front spindle question

[David Hodgkins]

Help?
From a PM I received:

"Hi Dave. I am a new builder and I finally received my front LCA’s. I am installing my front suspension. The photos# show a significant (3/4”) gap between the upper balljoint stud and its insertion hole in the front spindle. Obviously if I tried to tighten down the castle nut the hole for the cotter pin would not line up, but since the spindle hole is tapered I doubt I would be successful. I used the supplied spacer for the lower ball joint, as instructed, to properly install the lower ball joint and no problem. So, before I buy a hardened spacer I want your opinion on whether this might be the wrong ball joint or spindle, and any advice you may have.
Thanks in advance. I have only rarely read about this problem in the Roadster builds.
Appreciate your time. Ed Klein, Long Island.

PS. I am unable to send photos on the forum. But maybe you don’t need them. Or I can send them to a personal email address?. Sorry!"

[Ray]

Might he have the left spindle on the right and the right spindle on the left? I don’t recall if they are interchangeable or not.

Or possibly even upside down?

[mosh1999]

Definitely need pics.

[David Hodgkins]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149959&d=1624899476

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149960&d=1624899476

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149961&d=1624899476

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149962&d=1624899476

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149954&d=1624899458

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149955&d=1624899458

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149956&d=1624899458

[David Hodgkins]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149957&d=1624899458

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149958&d=1624899458

[rich grsc]

All he needs is a couple washers under the nut

[Jeff Kleiner]

Help?
From a PM I received:

"Hi Dave. I am a new builder and I finally received my front LCA’s. I am installing my front suspension. The photos# show a significant (3/4”) gap between the upper balljoint stud and its insertion hole in the front spindle. Obviously if I tried to tighten down the castle nut the hole for the cotter pin would not line up, but since the spindle hole is tapered I doubt I would be successful. I used the supplied spacer for the lower ball joint, as instructed, to properly install the lower ball joint and no problem. So, before I buy a hardened spacer I want your opinion on whether this might be the wrong ball joint or spindle, and any advice you may have.
Thanks in advance. I have only rarely read about this problem in the Roadster builds.
Appreciate your time. Ed Klein, Long Island.



Viewed the photos; the only issue I see is that you have not installed the dust boot. The ball joint stud is a male taper, the spindle a female taper. They wedge together. You may or may not need to add a hardened washer between the nut and spindle so that the cotter pin hole and castle nut slots align but you won't know whether that is necessary until you pull the ball joint stud tight to the spindle.

Jeff

[Cutter 54]

Thanks for the input guys. The gap just seems pretty big even with the stud pretty much bottomed out in the spindle. Same deal on the other side. I'll use some spacers or washers. Just double checking. Doesn't hurt. EK.
Thanks for the trouble Dave.

[edwardb]

Thanks for the input guys. The gap just seems pretty big even with the stud pretty much bottomed out in the spindle. Same deal on the other side. I'll use some spacers or washers. Just double checking. Doesn't hurt. EK.
Thanks for the trouble Dave.

You're getting advice from two experienced builders there. I'll add mine as well. With multiple builds. (1) No spacers needed between the upper ball joint and the spindle. You're wasting time and effort and potentially keeping it from seating properly. It wedges very tightly on the tapered ball joint stud. (You'd find that out for sure when trying to remove...) (2) As stated, you're missing the mandatory boot. The kit comes with a rubber one. Many of us use a poly one from Energy Suspension. Either way, that joint needs to be sealed. (3) Also as stated, you may need to use a hardened washer under the castle nut to get the proper engagement and hole to line up. Looks like this:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%2020th%20Anniversary%20Mark%204%20R oadster/Front%20Suspension/.highres/IMG_3381_zpskpel3ybs.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/edwardb123/a/8e66151d-63b8-4ed5-bcfb-7f4c338bbf3c/p/3b99338e-56b8-47ce-a447-13cc544ea33e)

[mosh1999]

The lower ball joint washer has an inner taper that should be pointed down and yes, the upper boot is mandatory. What was said above is gospel. The rest looks good.

[Cutter 54]

I wanted to ask others if this doesn't seem strange. How often have you seen so much gap on a ball joint, indicating such a long stud?? I try to spare the folks at FFR too many newbie questions, but it doesn't sit right with me. Gaps and tolerances are not like on an F1 car, but this seems way off. I'll follow up after I get an FFR opinion. Oh, yeah, about those grease boots. MIA.

[rich grsc]

No it's not strange, it doesn't have the grease boot on. Thats the same ball joint thats on thousands of vehicles, there is nothing off about it, it's fine.

[edwardb]

I wanted to ask others if this doesn't seem strange. How often have you seen so much gap on a ball joint, indicating such a long stud?? I try to spare the folks at FFR too many newbie questions, but it doesn't sit right with me. Gaps and tolerances are not like on an F1 car, but this seems way off. I'll follow up after I get an FFR opinion. Oh, yeah, about those grease boots. MIA.

Will be curious what your response is when Factory Five also tells you it's not strange, but rather totally normal as Rich said. Remove the boot from any upper ball joint and you'll see a similar stud length. It has to have room for the upper control arm and spindle not to run into each other when moving. Not to mention thousands have been built exactly like the picture I posted.

I'm assuming you received Mevotech ball joints. That's what Factory Five has been supplying for some time. The boots are in the Mevotech boxes along with the ball joints. I'd be very surprised if they weren't there. Packaged that way from the factory.

[egchewy79]

Some words of wisdom from one former newbie to a current one.
When I first got on the forums, there's a lot of advice thrown out there and it's hard to determine which is good and which is bad.
After a while, you'll recognize some forum members that are regulars who, in retrospect, give very sage advice.
Jeff Kleiner and Paul Borror (edwardb) are some of the most trusted members around with a ton of experience.
If they tell you that it looks good, then it probably looks good (minus the dust boot, of course).
When reading through my build thread again, I didn't realize at the time the amt of help they provided me in my early stages and beyond.

[Cutter 54]

I may be a new builder, but I've been around long enough to sort out off-hand comments from worthwhile advice from trustworthy sources. And yes, when the Paul or Jeff puts his 2 cents in, I pay close attention. I have solicited their help in the past. Kind of embarrassed I focussed so much on the gap I missed that there is no boot (red face). I received the ball joints so long ago and stashed them away, waiting for the LCA's, I must have lost or discarded them (I know, no excuse). Well, some humility is good once in a while. I have been trying to make up for lost time waiting for parts I am skipping steps and missing things. NOT a good strategy. Time to regroup.
Thank you all for the help. It is greatly appreciated. I'll be back with more questions....EK

[Rdone585]

My records show - Ball joint boots - Energy Suspension polyurethane ball joint covers, made for Chrysler ball joints. P/N 5.13102G
TRW 10162
Moog K772
McQuay FA395
Spicer 500-1004

I recently ordered from Amazon "Energy Suspension 5.13102G Ball Joint Dust Boot for Chrysler" for $10.23.
They worked perfectly for mine.