Just bought a super front end set from PST. Had it installed have about 6 miles on the new parts. Went to have the car lined up and was told that the ball joints didn't look like the right ones. That the rubber boot looked like it wouldn't hold grease. And that it may be holding the front end up slightly in the air. I was wondering if anyone had put one of these kits on there car. If so, could I get a picture of how the ball joints look or if theirs a website I could go to. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hope these photos help. I know I'm running the Global West tubular uppers but the attachment of the balljoints is exactly the same as the stock upper A-Arms.
Dumb question time, why do you want tubular arms? weight savings? or does it make it handle different? also why did u only get uppers?
sorry for stupid questions just tryin to learn something. weird now that im older i love to learn new stuff, couldnt get me to open a book when i was younger.
The arms and the attachment beams actually change the handling, correcting some 35 year-old handling problems. (They change the camber curve.) They are tubular because they are easier to fabricate in smaller runs than the heavy stamped arms. The fact that they weigh less is a bonus!
I'd have to see a picture of the PST parts... cant think of how a balljoint in itself would hold the front end high... unless it's not pivoting, in which case it's defective.
-------------------------------------------------------- from what I have read on the tubular arms, the slight improvement in negative camber gain while cornering is an after-effect of the increased caster the arms give by positioning the upper joint further back.
The reason many people only do the upper is that the lower offers no geometry changes, and very little weight savings, so isn't worth the extra cost. --------------------------------------------------------
On the PST boot not holding grease... It "looked" like it wouldn't hold grease, or will it not hold grease? It could be that these joints are they type with the long stud, which in effect gives a taller spindle, improving negative camber gain. If this is the case, they "look" funny, but are supposed to perform well. The boot wont travel down the stud to contact the spindle, but makes a seal around the stud. The tall stud does not hold the front end high. It holds the upper arm at a different angle. The spring between the lower arm and the frame holds the car up, so the problem would be in the spring, or lower arm pivots (bushings or joint).
If the kit also came with a tall-stud lower joint, this actually drops the ride height, by placing the spindle higher in its relationship to the frame pivots. It also is bad for bumpsteer, and is often used with the front-steer Abody, where it has the opposite effect on bumpsteer. A long-stud outer tie-rod may have been included to help correct bumpsteer. (hard to follow... sorry)
I installed the PST kit on my bird and noticed that the boot for the upper ball joint doesn't contact the spindle to make a tight seal to hold the grease. It may hold grease for a short while but dirt and grime are going to get in there.
I thought that my problem was that when I upgraded to disc brakes that the guy must have sold me the wrong setup at the swap meet and I was OOL. He said they were off of a 69 camaro and that they would fit. He had them on for about 6 miles and wanted the front dropped 2" so traded them out. It looks like 67-69 have same upper ball joint but now I'm scrathing my head like 24GO24 is.
Scott, I think that you are onto something about the stud being longer. Do they make a longer boot for the longer stud? this would fix the problem with our rides as long as it isn't changing geometry in some negative way. Or it could be that the stud is slightly larger in diameter causing it to sit higher in the spindle, but the nut seems to be correct. Either way something is wrong here.
I wonder if I got a new balljoint from the local supply house for reference if that might lend towards a solution.
While your on the subject I installed auto part store ball joint's in my bird about 10 years ago. It seems I have the same problem the upper boot does not want to seal around the joint enough to hold the grease in. So I left it but it's been bothering so I'm thinking about trying it again.
Rick's Camaro Parts sells the "correct" GM licensed upper ($19.00) and lower ball joints and also sells the correct style rivets to install the upper joint.
Not sure if this helps you guys out, but it can't hurt.
The taller stud is supposed to improve geometry, but if the boot cant hold the grease, it's not much of a trade off. I am not aware of a taller boot. I'm also just guessing that this is in fact what PST is selling.
