Anyone had to chase a ball joint for a soarer?

**wa5** · 09-01-2011, 12:35 PM

I think ball joints are "rebuilt" by injecting teflon/ rubber / whatever into them. Had a mates Pitman arm rebuilt this way years ago... couldnt get a replacement for love nor money... seemed to do the job ok...

Celsiors and Soarers seem to have a problem with fragile front ends....

**Sciflyer** · 09-01-2011, 05:53 PM

I dont think they do actually, its just that to get the smooth ride they use quite soft bushes and dampers which tends to mean they dont last, particularly when they were designed for 15x7" wheels and most of us these days are running 17 or 18 inch and wider. Bear in mind most of these cars are around 20 years old now, so its not really surprising. But the basic suspension design on both cars is good.

**CrUZida** · 09-01-2011, 06:21 PM

Considering most have done 15+ years and 200,000+ km's on original shocks, bushes and ball joints, I say thats pretty good.

And then you take into account just how much extra work they do compared to a Falcon or Commodore, and it looks even better.

**wa5** · 09-01-2011, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Sciflyer

I dont think they do actually, its just that to get the smooth ride they use quite soft bushes and dampers which tends to mean they dont last,.

Pretty much my point.

**Hendo** · 10-01-2011, 10:57 AM

Not sure about the sensor mount, guessing no as they came of a TT. I PMd ya too with details

**AndyTTR** · 10-01-2011, 12:32 PM

+1 for JZA80 / JZZ30 arms won't have the ride-height sensor mount for the UZZ31 air-bag system. If you're not running airbags then its not a problem. As said, the ball joints are not replaceable. I think there was a thread on this on the American supraforums? Have a search on there, might have some more info on it.

Also +1 for Soarers having softer bushes - I've noticed that JZA80's with similar K's on the clock to a Soarer don't have all the worn out bush issues that Soarers do. The TT JZA80 even has some kind of rubber spherical-bearings in the front control arms in place of the bushes! Might be a cheap upgrade for the Soarer folk? I'm pretty sure that the front control arms are interchangable between the Soarer and Supra, but the rears aren't (Supra has wider rear track?)... I could check the part numbers in the EPC if you want?

And +1 for the rebuild ball joints - they just dismantle them, clean, re-grease and replace the rubber boots. I suppose if the threaded 'ball' bit is the same as another model they could replace that too... but probably not a good idea if the 'cup' bit is worn out of shape (you'd need the original one as it'd be worn into the same kind of shape...).

**"Z" UTE** · 11-01-2011, 02:25 PM

The "rebuilt" balljoints, have the boot removed, and then they are cleaned up, to remove grease etc. A polymer is then pumped through the grease nipple, and given time to set. A new nipple and boot are installed, and a little grease is pumped in, that is the extent of the overhaul. The cup on these balljoints is formed around the ball, and can not be removed.

cheers Chuck.