adjustable ball joints

[elty001]

got my tracking and camber checked out again at the garage and I have been told that I might be better off modding the upper control arm and fitting adjustable upper ball joints.
just had a look on the net and found a couple of vids showing these being installed but as usual none for a Nissan terrano.
might get a couple of upper control arms off a scrapper and have a play about.
any thoughts.got to be cheaper than the calmini upper control arms.

 

[R1cho]

i was thinking about this myself the other week when i was looking at them camber adjusting bolts, there must be another way to do it without the shims or the expensive arms :nenau

 

[elty001]

My thoughts exactly.
When I did my ball joints recently it got me thinking about it :thumb2

 

[AlexD333]

Good idea, your camber is bonkers, me n the missus meant to mention on our laining trip.

 

[rustic]

My thoughts exactly.
When I did my ball joints recently it got me thinking about it :thumb2

If nothing changes, replacing like for like should not affect the camber, making DIY replacement a doddle.

If each was adjustable, you would require specialist setting up equipment each time you replaced one.

During manufacturing, they probably use the same thickness shim for a batch of vehicles, assuming all the tolerances were the same...

 

[elty001]

They put a big dangly thing on the wheel and it measures the camber.
Re shimmed it but it's on the maximum amount of shims that is recommended by nissan specs.
That's what tech at garage told me to look into adjustable top ball joints.

 

[makeitfit]

You just need to open out the holes into slots. Then the BJ can be moved in and out to suite. Just make sure you use HT nuts and bolts so they can be tightened up big time. One wouldn't want those loosening off a bit would one ?

 

[elty001]

Not really enough room on a standard upper control arm because of the shape of it.might be able to get a couple of mm.
It's the lifting on the torsion bars which is giving me positive camber.
Once I get to 35mm of lift it's starting to throw out the camber big time.
Don't suppose you know off hand what the difference in length is with the calmini top arm and a standard one. :nenau

 

[R1cho]

same with me, if i lower the torsions it comes back in a bit but looks stupid and wheels catch :lol

 

[makeitfit]

No sorry mate , I fitted mine and binned the old top arms. Didn't thinkto measure them . I still had to mod the calmini arm mind as there wasn't enough room for a good size shock to fit up it
The std top arm can be cut to get rid of the lip and then a plate welded in. That plate can have the slots in it and make it thicker to account for lost material etc. :thumbs

 

[R1cho]

hmmm could put an adjustable bar on it to get it into place before tightening up the ball joints

 

[elty001]

I feel another project coming on:thumb2
I was thinking of getting a stronger one similar to the calmini one made up at work.
Not really a complex bit of engineering when you look at them.
Just need to find an old one so all the dimensions can be copied and a jig making up.

 

[makeitfit]

I feel another project coming on:thumb2
I was thinking of getting a stronger one similar to the calmini one made up at work.
Not really a complex bit of engineering when you look at them.
Just need to find an old one so all the dimensions can be copied and a jig making up.

The biggest problem I found was the bushes. They're a weird set up as std and tricky to mod, but worth it for big loads off road. I had some new bushes made from nylatron and put grease nipples in too. Seems to help :thumb2
I did a thread on it somewhere

 

[rustic]

The biggest problem I found was the bushes. They're a weird set up as std and tricky to mod, but worth it for big loads off road. I had some new bushes made from nylatron and put grease nipples in too. Seems to help :thumb2
I did a thread on it somewhere

Here's a thread on the front suspension mod...
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21300&highlight=bushes&page=3

another...
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15765&highlight=nylatron

 

[elty001]

Here's a thread on the front suspension mod...
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21300&highlight=bushes&page=3

another...
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15765&highlight=nylatron

:thumb2:thumb2

 

[elty001]

The biggest problem I found was the bushes. They're a weird set up as std and tricky to mod, but worth it for big loads off road. I had some new bushes made from nylatron and put grease nipples in too. Seems to help :thumb2
I did a thread on it somewhere

we use polypenco for a lot of the heavy load bearing bushes at work.
easy to machine,greasable and hard wearing.
will have to have a chat with our design guy and see what he can come up with.

 

[R1cho]

this is what we need :naughty

 

[elty001]

:thumb2
whats that for:nenaudont know if it would be strong enough for the front end of a terrano but I like the idea.

 

[R1cho]

:thumb2
whats that for:nenaudont know if it would be strong enough for the front end of a terrano but I like the idea.

its for a pathfinder

 

[R1cho]

just thought it would give something to work to and some ideas