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strfish7
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2014
Posts: 60
Location: United States
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 Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:31 pm Post subject: New torsion arms and ball joints |
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Hi Everyone,
After giving Bus Boys since December to fulfill my order of rebuilt torsion arms, I am forced to conclude that they are pretty much out of the ball joint rebuilding business. PM me if you want the entire painful saga, but I'll just say that they'll be my last resort for ordering anything for my bus in the future. I'd really like to get these old joints replaced before the unbearably hot weather in South Texas really gets going, and there's no place here that can press ball joints. So....any good sources for rebuilt arms? TIA.
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16879
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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I can do them for you if you send me your arms. don't think I have any cores laying around, as no one ever sends them back 
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richparker
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011
Posts: 6982
Location: Durango, CO
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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So you're looking for arms with new ball joints already installed? Do you have an ACVW shop near you? If so I bet they could do them.
I just bought my 1st product from Bus Boys, and rebuilt steering box. I thought they were OK. As long as the rebuild is good, I'll
Be happy.
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
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Location: San Jose, California, USA
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lintbrush
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2013
Posts: 269
Location: Campbell, California
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 1:08 am Post subject: |
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Recently got mine from Wolfgang Intl in a week.
Also replacing inner/outer bearings/seals, rubber snubbers/clips and sway bar with an HD version.
Took my driver side wheel off to check things out. Both on this side have torn boots.
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strfish7
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2014
Posts: 60
Location: United States
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| Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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Yours looks like what I'd like mine to look like, one of these days. Just completely dirty, frozen and nasty down there. I suppose WI is going to be the way to go.
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Heathintexas
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2011
Posts: 135
Location: Berlin Germany
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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anyone have any feedback yet for these WI arms and joints? I just talked to them and they said they were using Chinese ball joints. Man it seems like it's going to be impossible to find a decent set of joints.
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Vee Dub Nut
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004
Posts: 1184
Location: Dallas, GA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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I just bought a set from Wolfgang Intl about a month ago and they came with Nakata joints... Did the recently change? I'm pleased with what I received.
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Last edited by Vee Dub Nut on Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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wcfvw69 
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Heathintexas wrote: |
| anyone have any feedback yet for these WI arms and joints? I just talked to them and they said they were using Chinese ball joints. Man it seems like it's going to be impossible to find a decent set of joints. |
When I did the research on what where the best ball joints being sold, I found that Nakata's were recommended. I bought them and installed them. Overall, they are fine and I think after a few thousand miles they will be totally broken in.
Bugcity.com is listing NOS bus ball joints though they are not VW made.
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
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**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
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richparker
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011
Posts: 6982
Location: Durango, CO
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Tight balls seems to be the common issue. B&R told me they have seen all sorts of ball joints come in and its the same thing, they have to machine them down a bit so you don't get stuck mid turn.
| wcfvw69 wrote: |
| Bugcity.com is listing NOS bus ball joints though they are not VW made. |
$60/ea for MOOG balls?
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Brian wrote: |
Tight balls seems to be the common issue. B&R told me they have seen all sorts of ball joints come in and its the same thing, they have to machine them down a bit so you don't get stuck mid turn.
| wcfvw69 wrote: |
| Bugcity.com is listing NOS bus ball joints though they are not VW made. |
$60/ea for MOOG balls? |
Exactly.. When I saw them under the NOS category, I had dreams of the joints having the VW logo stamped on them, like the original joints I removed from my bus.. Oh well...
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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If you find some balls with VW stamped on them, prepare to pay out the butt for them. Not because they work, but people know that NOS = $$$$
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Heathintexas
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2011
Posts: 135
Location: Berlin Germany
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| Vee Dub Nut wrote: |
| I just bought a set from Wolfgang Intl about a month ago and they came with Nakata joints... Did the recently change? I'm pleased with what I received. |
Yea, apparently they did change. Just got this email back from wolfgang:
| Wolfgang international wrote: |
| Yes they are China. We have used German only in the past, but had major problems with them. They were so stiff you couldn't move them. Then we went to brazilen and TRWs they too had problems in that they had to be turned down just to get them pressed into the arms. If you try to press them in with out turning them down they just blow the ball joint out. So we have gone to the China lowered ball joint that has a longer slot in them for lowered car. Not that it would matter on a stock car. We have been having good luck with these. As a general rule I hate china parts but until the german and brazilen companys make a good product we are stuck with china. |
I'm really skeptical to buy joints at all. Maybe these Chinese joints are great but I just can't see dropping the cash and labor on something that may be less functional than my 46 year old originals. Maybe it's just the word Chinese that's making me weary.
None the less, I'm not sure what to do here.
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Vee Dub Nut
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004
Posts: 1184
Location: Dallas, GA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 10:09 am Post subject: |
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| Heathintexas wrote: |
| Vee Dub Nut wrote: |
| I just bought a set from Wolfgang Intl about a month ago and they came with Nakata joints... Did the recently change? I'm pleased with what I received. |
Yea, apparently they did change. Just got this email back from wolfgang:
| Wolfgang international wrote: |
| Yes they are China. We have used German only in the past, but had major problems with them. They were so stiff you couldn't move them. Then we went to brazilen and TRWs they too had problems in that they had to be turned down just to get them pressed into the arms. If you try to press them in with out turning them down they just blow the ball joint out. So we have gone to the China lowered ball joint that has a longer slot in them for lowered car. Not that it would matter on a stock car. We have been having good luck with these. As a general rule I hate china parts but until the german and brazilen companys make a good product we are stuck with china. |
I'm really skeptical to buy joints at all. Maybe these Chinese joints are great but I just can't see dropping the cash and labor on something that may be less functional than my 46 year old originals. Maybe it's just the word Chinese that's making me weary.
None the less, I'm not sure what to do here. |
Interesting.. Like I said, mine came with the nakata joints. Mine might have been on their shelf for a while too, as my arms are the early arms which are only 68-70 year model IIRC. Probably lower volume movers than the later ones which span the rest of the years. Overall I'm pleased with them. I could move them by hand before installation. Took some force, but doable. I don't notice any ill effects after driving on them.
To WI's credit, at least it sounds like they are paying attention to what they are doing, and not just slapping anything in and going. Chinese parts can be just fine, so long as the original company is willing to pay for the quality. Maybe they are working out well for them?
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Heathintexas
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2011
Posts: 135
Location: Berlin Germany
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Vee Dub Nut wrote: |
To WI's credit, at least it sounds like they are paying attention to what they are doing, and not just slapping anything in and going. Chinese parts can be just fine, so long as the original company is willing to pay for the quality. Maybe they are working out well for them? |
That is a very good point. May have to sleep on it.
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:52 am Post subject: |
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I called Cip-1 about their "German" made ball joints. He was brutally honest in saying that they are receiving lots of calls about how tight/stiff they are. He said their China ball joints branded under "Euromax" were getting good reviews and no complaints.
I installed the Nakata's 6-8 months ago. I've had no issues with them. They are just "slightly" a bit stiff but I think a in a 2-3k miles, they will be like butter.
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Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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richparker
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011
Posts: 6982
Location: Durango, CO
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| wcfvw69 wrote: |
I installed the Nakata's 6-8 months ago. I've had no issues with them. They are just "slightly" a bit stiff but I think a in a 2-3k miles, they will be like butter. |
I'm sure they will break in and be just fine. My Nakatas feel great, my steering wheel goes back to center and my overall steering is super tight and responsive. I did install a Bus Boys remaned steering box, steering coupler and a new drag link at the same time as the ball joints.
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Heathintexas
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2011
Posts: 135
Location: Berlin Germany
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| Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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to oppose my previous comment. I just got my set of control arms from Wolfgang International, and they did have Nakatas pressed. Maybe it was a set that was left on the shelf, so I'm still unsure of the future of these things..
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