i bought two alfa 164 bottom ball joints as specified here and they are perfect.

however i'm having a tricky situation fitting them to my wishbones.
i currently have two ways of fitting them.

1: i would drill three new holes on the wishbone

fitting new alfa 164 joints

2: i'd cut the third mounting hole on the ball joint housing (red line on pic) and just drill one hole on the wishbone:

Description

do you think i'd weaken the wishbone if i drill three holes and two are a bit close to the original holes? (i.e. method 1)

any thoughts welcome

Thanks

[Edited on 20/9/07 by robertst]

personally I'd go option one, the holes sholud nut really affect the wishbone.

But option 2 of cutting the ball joint is bad. cutting would cause excess heat in the joint that may damage it internally

Option 1 is my choice!

Option 1 seems safer to me.

You could even weld up the original holes if you want.

Cheers,
James

ok so its not really a big deal to drill the three holes then?

thanks very much

Personally I'd rather source the ball joints the wishbones were designed around (probably Maxi) and avoid modifying either the wishbones or Alfa ball joints.

After that then Option 1 would be preferred solution rather than modifying the Alfa ball joint in any way.

If you're having trouble getting the right ball joints, I'm sure one of the kit makers (MK for example) who use the same part would ship a set to you. If not I'be happy to source in the UK and post them out to you at cost.

Nick

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Originally posted by nick205
Personally I'd rather source the ball joints the wishbones were designed around (probably Maxi) and avoid modifying either the wishbones or Alfa ball joints.

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if you stick to the alfa joint, welding up the holes is easy (although i'm not sure what the heat would do to the metal).

Take a copper coin, put it behind the hole and weld - the weld won't stick to the copper.

Doesn't using the Alfa 164 joint get round the problem of having to ream out the bottom hole on the upright?

My parts dealer told me there were two balljoints list for the 164 twin spark one is 13mm the other is 15mm - presume measured somewhere on the taper. which one did you get, do you have a part no

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Originally posted by flange nut
Doesn't using the Alfa 164 joint get round the problem of having to ream out the bottom hole on the upright?

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quote:

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My parts dealer told me there were two balljoints list for the 164 twin spark one is 13mm the other is 15mm - presume measured somewhere on the taper. which one did you get, do you have a part no

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