Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Need lower ball joints!

  1. #1
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts

    Need lower ball joints!

    Well the one on my car is shot so i figure I'll just do both. Wondering what is a good deal on lower ball joints before I buy.

    I found this one
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ball-Joi...8036%26ps%3D54

    Never did this job before so it will be completely new to me. Any tips on the job, what else I should do or what I'll need? Thanks everyone!
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  2. #2
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts
    bump
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  3. #3
    Super Moderator tsingson's Avatar
    Drives
    99 Silver NB
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    18,501
    Thanks Given
    12,135
    Thanked 2,066 Times in 1,332 Posts
    I am sure that you probably will need to get your alignment done. If you have any other suspension components that you were wanting to change, now may be a good time.

  4. #4
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! Small White Car's Avatar
    Drives
    93 Crystal White
    Location
    Just the other side of Paradise
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    210
    Thanks Given
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    DO NOT BUY E-BAY BALL JOINTS!

    They have an awesome reputation for just giving it up, at the worst possible moment.
    OEM replacements run about $50 a side, is your peace of mind worth only $65?
    The artist formerly known as 'lilRedRide

  5. #5
    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone SM16RMSM's Avatar
    Drives
    VR 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    1,230
    Thanks Given
    76
    Thanked 104 Times in 73 Posts
    Take a look into buying Moog. Stay away from Chinese made stuff. Part Number is K9908

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-K9908-L...9e73c8&vxp=mtr

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOOG-K9908-B...aa8ae8&vxp=mtr

  6. #6
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Thumper13's Avatar
    Drives
    Like a Maniac
    Location
    Merritt Island Florida
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    764
    Thanks Given
    2
    Thanked 24 Times in 19 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by SM16RMSM View Post
    Take a look into buying Moog. Stay away from Chinese made stuff. Part Number is K9908

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-K9908-L...9e73c8&vxp=mtr

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOOG-K9908-B...aa8ae8&vxp=mtr
    I'm not so sure about those,Moog has their name cast into the arm and the rubber boot. If Moog isn't on them,they're not the real deal.
    Last edited by Thumper13; 01-13-2013 at 07:41 PM.

  7. #7
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
    Drives
    1999 White
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    15,852
    Thanks Given
    2,791
    Thanked 7,202 Times in 3,433 Posts
    The job is pretty straight forward. Replacing the lower BJs does not need the car aligned. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut first. DO NOT strike that stud! Hit the knuckle on the area around this stud to free it, or use/rent a pickle fork. when the BJ is free from the knuckle, remove the 17mm bolt that attaches it to the control arm. It is the one that is next to the bottom of the shock mount. Remove the lateral bolt/nut last. Install it in the reverse of removal. You may need to put a jack under the lower control arm to raise it up to connect the BJ to the knuckle.If you have an impact wrench, use it to install the new castle nut to keep the BJ stud from spinning.

  8. #8
    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone SM16RMSM's Avatar
    Drives
    VR 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    1,230
    Thanks Given
    76
    Thanked 104 Times in 73 Posts
    Thumper, those pictures are stock pictures. They not of the actual part. I sell TWR and Moog ball joint all day long on eBay. It is bad since you can't tell TRW ball joint from a Moog. Both are manufactured in the same building. Certain parts they will label Moog on but lower bal joints for a Miata won't have the name on them. It cheaper to make that way.

  9. #9
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by kung fu jesus View Post
    The job is pretty straight forward. Replacing the lower BJs does not need the car aligned. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut first. DO NOT strike that stud! Hit the knuckle on the area around this stud to free it, or use/rent a pickle fork. when the BJ is free from the knuckle, remove the 17mm bolt that attaches it to the control arm. It is the one that is next to the bottom of the shock mount. Remove the lateral bolt/nut last. Install it in the reverse of removal. You may need to put a jack under the lower control arm to raise it up to connect the BJ to the knuckle.If you have an impact wrench, use it to install the new castle nut to keep the BJ stud from spinning.
    Thank you for the descriptive explanation! You wouldn't happen to know where I could find pictures, would you? If not, I'm sure I can figure it out.

    I'm probably gonna order a ball joint from my mechanic. He gets his for 40 bucks a piece and I'm sure they are fine.
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  10. #10
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power maharaj's Avatar
    Drives
    angry
    Location
    Earth
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    898
    Thanks Given
    120
    Thanked 111 Times in 62 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by I<3flippyheadlights View Post

    I'm probably gonna order a ball joint from my mechanic. He gets his for 40 bucks a piece and I'm sure they are fine.
    Make sure that they aren't made in China or you are asking for problems.

  11. #11
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts
    Maztech orders all their parts through World Pack or whatever. I'm sure its fine
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  12. #12
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! The Driver's Avatar
    Drives
    1996 Montego Blue Leather Package + 5 Speed = Torsen II
    Location
    Lakewood (Green Mountain), CO.
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,369
    Thanks Given
    933
    Thanked 483 Times in 283 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by I<3flippyheadlights View Post
    Maztech orders all their parts through World Pack or whatever. I'm sure its fine
    Jeff is a stand up guy. If he is ordering the parts, you have nothing to worry about.
    96 Montego, replacing a 95M... I miss: My running peeps in Tampa, running barefoot @ Clearwater Beach and First Choice BBQ, in Brandon. In So Cal I miss: The Malibu Canyons, CA 33 and In & Out Burgers ! I'm from Tampa, if I was from Tampa Bay, I'd be a fish!

  13. #13
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts
    Exactly! He is awesome!
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •