Information needed on balljoints

[Hen]

OK, I've rung a few places which specialise in steering and suspension and it seems that no-one has any techical information on balljoints. They only list them by the application.

Specifically I want a balljoint which will press into a GE Sigma lower control arm with a taper to suit RA60 steering arms.

So if anyone has access to diameters, tapers and sizes of these things, or can point me at a catalogue with such information please speak up. Or even better if anyone has found a balljoint to suit, please let me know.

Thanks
Hen

PS, I know there are other ways to solve the problem, however I would still like to find out the balljoint info.

[oldcorollas]

arrrgh, i found one the other day that was pretty good, not sure on the measurements.. i'l;l try to find it again

[Hen]

Nice work OC. It'd be good to know what it was, but I'm also interested in how you worked it out. As far as I can see, no-one knows the required info.

[oldcorollas]

my bad
just has a lot of numbers for cross-referencing (ie search a given number...)
http://www.oem-products.com/f/PAJA%2...5-Edition1.pdf

and their price list
http://www.oem-products.com/f/PAJA%2...t%20090905.pdf
i REALLY want to find a cat with measurements tho.... would make life so much easier..
will see what can be found... i think it's more likely to be a manufacturer cat, as opposed to a retail cat tho...

hmm, you could email one of the chinese remanufacturers, they may be more likely to redistribute dimension information

[gearb0x]

Id be interested in any information on a balljoint that would suit

[oldcorollas]

well.... RA60 is BJ145.... as is KE30 to AE86 corollas, corona 13X and 14X, and celica TA22 to Ra65, there is listing elsewhere for cortina TC-TD too
(american autos have them for $52 each )


GE sigma is BJ122, same as galant GA-GD models, lancer LA to LC, and thats a bout it..
(american autos have them for $22 each)


http://www.partswarehouse.com.au has them both for about $17 hrmmmm

555 numbers are sb-2162 SB-7102

but i still can't find online cat with measurements

[poorolla]

I think i have the answer for you..
I recently fitted sigma control arms to my ra23 celica (BJ145) and found that the taper on the sigma balljoints (BJ122) fitted perfectly.
I was worried at first because i only looked at the thread diameter and the sigma thread seemed to be a lot smaller than the celica BJ145 thread, but then i took a closer look while i was up getting parts and realised that the sigma balljoint has the same taper as the celica balljoint, but then steps down to a smaller thread and nut.
So the BJ122 is what your after, and lucky for you looks to be the cheapest of the lot too!
good luck,
Mark.

*edited* - I added a picture to try and explain what i mean, its pretty crap but i hope it helps

[AEhachiroku]

I had RA65 struts on my sprinter and found that the standard Sigma ball joint fitted fine with sigma lca. Had no problems at all in the 3 or 4months i was driving with them.

Cheers
Craig

[oldcorollas]

I think i have the answer for you..
I recently fitted sigma control arms to my ra23 celica (BJ145) and found that the taper on the sigma balljoints (BJ122) fitted perfectly.
I was worried at first because i only looked at the thread diameter and the sigma thread seemed to be a lot smaller than the celica BJ145 thread, but then i took a closer look while i was up getting parts and realised that the sigma balljoint has the same taper as the celica balljoint, but then steps down to a smaller thread and nut.
So the BJ122 is what your after, and lucky for you looks to be the cheapest of the lot too!
good luck,
Mark.

*edited* - I added a picture to try and explain what i mean, its pretty crap but i hope it helps

hmm, interesting!

i guess the way to check properly is...

measure the diameter at the top and bottom of the taper in the steering arms themselves... if they are the same, then all good... but if the actual steering arm holes are different.... then they may be designed to sit higher or lower on the taper..

and the angle could be very slightly different also... a few degrees is enough to make it a problem due to much higher loading on a single spot...


S14 ball joints are 41mm in diameter where they go into the LCA... anyone got a BJ145 they can measure for me? pretty please

[Hen]

No, the taper on the RA60 and Sigma balljoints are different. I measured them all the other day, the measurements are:



The RA60 arm does sort of fit onto the Sigma balljoint, though I'm not happy doing that. It sits higher up the taper than it should, and I think the tapers are too different.

OC, I should hopefully have some more measurements of BJ145 in the nest few days, once I get them pressed out.

Hen

[oldcorollas]

it might be possible to get the steering arms reamed to the new ball joint size (since it is just a mm or two) but i don't know what workshop would have tooling to do such a procedure? if the BJ's don't swap, i'd be tempted to do something like that....

[Hen]

I agree on reaming the steering arms, however I need new balljoints anyway, and would prefer to do it all with factory arms and LCAs, especially if there is a balljoint which matches.

I may have to go do some testing in a balljoint warehouse.

Hen

[Hen]

I spent a bit of time investigating at the local Bursons (opened every balljoint they had in stock) and I discovered:

Code - Car - Press fit size - Taper

BJ314 - MX62 - 44.3mm dia - Taper is very similar to S13 hubs.
BJ122 - GE Sigma - 40.2mm dia grooved (like wheel studs)
BJ145 - RA60 (and lots more) - 42.4mm dia
BJ219 - ??? - 40.2mm dia grooved - Taper MAY suit S13 hubs
BJ285 - ??? - 40.1mm dia - Taper may suit RA60 steering arms
BJ925 - ??? - 40.2mm dia grooved - Taper very similar to GE Sigma

So it looks like there were no miracle matches.

Hen

[jonra23]

Did anyone come up with a fit for this, or for a ball joint to suit RA2# LCA AND S13 strut?

regards
jon

[clubagreenie]

Are ball joint tapers a standard, not for size, but in relation to angle for size. Like a No 1, 2 and 3 morse taper or are they just made up as they go along? If they are a morse standard for in stance it shouldn't be too hard to compile a database of the taper and thread as people come across them.