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LarryMart
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2022
Posts: 80
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 Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 5:22 pm Post subject: T3 Ball Joints |
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I have been waiting for the T3 HD ball joints, which have not been in stock since I inquired before April. In April, they were expected to be available in the fall. Still no word on availability... Are they worth the wait ... or should I move on in quieter fashion... any idea on when they will actually be available to individuals? Which one a the 2nd choice? Tis on a 2 wheel only on road use.
Thanks,
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larry
91 Multivan |
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Wellington
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2004
Posts: 2020
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Are you referring to T3 Technique as the vendor?
The site does not indicate out of stock. |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12415
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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| It helps to know which ball joints. |
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LarryMart
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2022
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 4:43 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Sorry I was waiting for the Exclusive upper ball joints https://t3technique.com/collections/front-suspensi...exclusive. That is the one that I thought that I had read that is good. The alternative is like 1/3 the price...I would think that for the price difference the new ones are considerably better, and that is what I thought that I had read and was waiting for....(?)
I am very open to suggestions, as I would like to stop my clunking and torn boot.
Thanks
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larry
91 Multivan |
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Wellington
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2004
Posts: 2020
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 6:10 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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O.K. I only check the inventory of lower ones.
Uppers he does seem to be out of stock.
The upper ball joint is very simple to change and does not see near the same stresses as the lower ball joint.
You install his alternative and be confident it will last a good while, and consider the HD ones when they become available again.
The lower ones you definitely want the best quality you can get, for wear reasons, and because they are a bitch to change. |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12415
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 8:56 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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| LarryMart wrote: |
| I am very open to suggestions, as I would like to stop my clunking and torn boot. |
Email Chris and get some insight on the ETA. If they aren't en route now stop driving the van or replace with a different brand and replace it with the good ones when they arrive. The uppers bolt right in without really touching the suspension. |
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5549
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 9:39 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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| LarryMart wrote: |
| I have been waiting for the T3 HD ball joints... |
Thanks for the inquiry, Larry. The new run of upper ball joints (both standard and tall) is expected to be available in 3-4 weeks.
Below are two threads that track the timeline, development, and introduction of the T3 ball joints.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=100
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=759321&highlight=t3
But, for the backstory on the long delay of the upper ball joints, we have to go back to the beginning of the inception of the T3 ball joints. Over the years, I had seen the quality of ball joints getting worse and worse with nearly every stocking order I placed. Back in 2020, I decided that I had had enough of the garbage ball joints that were available for the Vanagon and decided to do something about it. But where to start?
There were a few false starts, but a chance meeting with the right people at the right time led to a relationship with a major suspension component manufacturer. Being the charismatic (I guess) person I am, they agreed to take on my project and produce high quality ball joints for me. This worked out great. They were awesome people to work with.
However, this manufacturing company ended up getting sold, and all but one member of the team that I was working with got let go. We will call him Tony. The timeline here is right after my first run of ball joints was delivered. At the time, I wasn't sure if I would even be able to have them produce a second run of joints, but luckily, Tony went to bat for me and convinced them to continue on with my joint program. As long as Tony was around, things went reasonably well. But, eventually, Tony got fed up with the way the new owners were doing things, so he left.
Once Tony left, things with this new company were rocky...really, really rocky. The quality of the joints has always remained very, very high, so that wasn't a problem. The problem was the lack of communication and the lack of the ability to make improvements/changes to the joints over time to make them the best they can be. It simply came down to: placing a purchase order, trusting they received it (because it could take months for someone to respond), then waiting...and waiting...and waiting, just to wonder when exactly the massive amount of money was going to be withdrawn from my bank account. Again, little to no communication. Just... one day there's money in my account, the next day there isn't. And weeks/months later, a truck shows up unannounced with pallets of joints. Fun!
To be clear, the quality of the joints never suffered, thank goodness. It was just all of the internal operations, communication, and administrative things that suffered greatly under the new ownership.
Then, one day, about a year and a half ago, I placed a purchase order for a new run of joints. I received an automated notification that the products I ordered were no longer available. Wait, what? These are MY products...exclusive to ME. What in the world was going on? After several inquiries, it finally came out that they had sold off a portion of their business, and along with that were my ball joints. But where did they go? Who now has the designs, the history of my joints? So...now what?
Through a massive amount of time, effort, and, of course, money, I was able to find a new manufacturer to produce my ball joints. This meant creating all new relationships, all new discussions about the requirements for the ball joints, all new drawings, all new samples to test fit, etc. There was lot's of miscommunication about the requirements necessary for the new joints. Building a new relationship with a suspension component manufacturer is difficult. It has been a very arduous road to say the least.
But I am very happy to say that we persevered, and we now have joints that are better than ever. Actually, that's a bit hard to believe, even for me. The previous generation of ball joints have been excellent. Other than some installation difficulties, we haven't had a single lower ball joint failure, that I am aware of. And other than just a couple of boots that split early on in the production, we haven't any upper ball joint failures either. That said, I still saw a few places where things could improve.
All of the new joints all have boots that were slightly redesigned and made from a more durable material. Internally, the upper ball joints are of a similar construction to the original, but with improved materials to increase the lifespan. I'm not sure that going to efforts to increase the lifespan of the upper ball joints was necessary, but I figured that, since we were in a full redesign anyway, why not make as many improvements as possible.
The real news is with the lower ball joints. In addition to the aforementioned boot redesign and material improvement, we have the following changes/improvements:
1) Chromoly, one-piece bodies for increased strength and durability. The original joints had a two-piece body that was made up of the main body with a solid cap that was crimped onto the end. The new version has a body that is all one piece, no more crimped cap. As a result of the one-piece body, testing shows the the maximum push-out force before failure is over 26462 lbf (12003 kgf). That will do nicely.
2) The new version of the lower ball joints, as well as the new upper ball joints, have improved corrosion protection for all components.
3) For the new lower ball joints, I have reduced the diameter of the knurled section just slightly to make them a little easier to install. While the previous joints had dimension that were 100% the same as the stock OE VW joints, people were having a hard time getting them installed without damaging the flange. The revised knurl dimension, as well as the stronger chromoly body material, should eliminate that issue.
4) I changed the end of the shank on the lower ball joints from an extended "spade" to an internal socket arrangement. This prevents the tip of the shank from hitting the steering knuckle on a 2wd when the suspension is at full droop (for lifted 2wds) and gets rid of that "spade" hanging down on a Syncro application.
So, that's the latest update on the T3 ball joints. As I mentioned, both version of the new upper ball joints will be here in 3-4 weeks, and the new lower ball joints will be here a week or two after that.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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dobryan 
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17303
Location: Brookeville, MD
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4589
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 11:30 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Excellent!!!
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23459
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Good God!....it sounds almost like you were dealing with Federal Mogul!
Ray |
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LarryMart
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2022
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Thanks Chris!
I will gladly wait for the best!!
larry
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larry
91 Multivan |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8523
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2025 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Brilliant…worth every penny!
Thanks, Chris & T3 Tech!
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
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metahacker
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2010
Posts: 935
Location: san.diego
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Larry,
Keep waiting - it will be worth it :) |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8756
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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This is another example of why this guy is the business model every Vanagon parts seller should be.
Thanks Chris.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?” |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 4768
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 7:16 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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| raygreenwood wrote: |
Good God!....it sounds almost like you were dealing with Federal Mogul!
Ray |
Or any other Car Company that treats their Suppliers like dirt, or something akin to that. FORD comes to mind years ago in the early 2000s, wondering how they blew up all their relationships with much smaller 2nd and 3rd tier Suppliers in the Detroit Area, and then, wondering why no one wanted to work with them in the Detroit Area since they'd put so many suppliers out of business who were totally dependent on FORD as their main contract and source of income. But weren't allowed to adjust their Contract pricing to FORD if their costs drastically changed. 
Total respect to you Chris for hanging in there with all of this. 
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4589
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 8:08 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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What I like about Chris' approach is that if I ever need ball joint (or anything else he makes) I don't have to make a decision or be wondering if I'm getting a good product, cause I am!... With the other random manufacturers/suppliers might as well shop on price since who knows what you'll be getting in the box. Some of our other dedicated suppliers like BusDepo and RMW do let's us know about what they are selling too but with T3 Chris, the question of of quality is answered before the sale is made.
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12415
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2025 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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Will the new batch of upper ball joints bolt directly to syncro UCAs without mods?
I have a set of t3technique lower ball joints ready to go in, matching quality uppers would be nice. |
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5549
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 7:37 am Post subject: Re: T3 Ball Joints |
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| raygreenwood wrote: |
Good God!....it sounds almost like you were dealing with Federal Mogul!
Ray |
To be honest, I think dealing with Federal Mogul may have been easier than what I had to deal with. I gave the light version of the story above, but suffice it to say, it all caused a huge amount of stress. I'm just happy to have landed on a solution to the problem.
| syncrodoka wrote: |
Will the new batch of upper ball joints bolt directly to syncro UCAs without mods?
I have a set of t3technique lower ball joints ready to go in, matching quality uppers would be nice. |
Yes, definitely.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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