Taller Upper Ball Joints
#1
Taller Upper Ball Joints
I am considering installing 0.9" longer upper ball joints on my 1970 442 to improve the camber curve. I am wondering if the change in spindle height will require adding shims to the bushing shaft to "pull" the spindle back to correct the camber?
I am assuming the upper ball joint is below the horizontal line thru the upper bushings, therefore the top of the longer "spindle" will tilt slightly outwards as it follows the circular arc up to the horizontal. IF I can add shims, it should allow me a little more caster adjustment. (all other suspension parts are stock)
I've added aftermarket upper control arms on my other modified 1970 442 and they allowed me to get 7 degrees positive caster and 1.5 degrees negative camber and the car tracks amazingly. The above subject car is numbers matching and I don't want to change anything that will be visible. Thanks, Bob
I am assuming the upper ball joint is below the horizontal line thru the upper bushings, therefore the top of the longer "spindle" will tilt slightly outwards as it follows the circular arc up to the horizontal. IF I can add shims, it should allow me a little more caster adjustment. (all other suspension parts are stock)
I've added aftermarket upper control arms on my other modified 1970 442 and they allowed me to get 7 degrees positive caster and 1.5 degrees negative camber and the car tracks amazingly. The above subject car is numbers matching and I don't want to change anything that will be visible. Thanks, Bob
#3
Ideally you'd install shorter aftermarket UCAs, but if you don't want to do that adding shims 'should' work. I say should because I've heard of people having problems not being able to install enough shims to get a proper alignment, or they make contact with the headers. Maybe an UBJ that's is 0.5 taller would be a good compromise.
#4
#5
Alignment
#6
0.5” longer ball joints
Mr. Nick, thanks for that link, it really explained alot. Maybe I’ll try the 1/2” longer ball joints to be safe. The car has stock manifolds so I should have room to adjust. I am most interested in being able to get some + caster adjustment from this change because that’s what you feel in the steering. It eliminates that “wander” that you have with - caster
#7
Marcus @ SC&C is a good guy and he'll talk your ear off. Even if you don't buy anything from him. He helped design the AFX spindles and did a lot of work with the tall balljoint mods. So I'd recommend talking to him about your plans and he'll let you know the pitfalls.
#8
tall spindles
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/lonestar...allspindle.htm
my cutlass has the conversion with original control arms.
there are a stack of shims for alignment and I was told factory manifolds W Z are what will fit ... no headers with 455
my cutlass has the conversion with original control arms.
there are a stack of shims for alignment and I was told factory manifolds W Z are what will fit ... no headers with 455
#10
Longer ball joints
I purchased the Pro-Forged, 0.5" longer, upper ball joints for my 1970 442. I will post an update with pictures after I install them, probably in June. Thanks for all the feedback, Bob.
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September 20th, 2020 02:52 PM