My rubbers have holes in them again ......

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

Does anyone know of a good source for ball joint dust /grease rubbers !!
Absolute garbage out there now....
They literally fall apart in one season.....
My balls are totally exposed and I am riding around town that way !
I squirt oil on my balls but I am getting tired of this.....

All kidding aside......

slalombuggy · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:47 pm Post subject:

They're all CRAP. I had to replace my tierod boots after 1 summer. I used urethane ones from BP, seem to be holding up. Don't know if they make B/J boots though.

brad

WilliamA · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:40 am Post subject:

I hate it when my balls get dusty. I agree. The best aftermarket ones seem to be the urethane covers, though they aren't great either. Just keep plenty of grease in there.
_________________
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain

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-Theodore Roosevelt

drs1023 · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:23 am Post subject:

Spherical tie rods are cool. With a little thought and some fabrication skills, I'll bet these could come in ball joint size and keep your balls from showing.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

slalombuggy · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:44 am Post subject:

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

I guess I will try the urethane for lack of anything else....
They tell me its because its a buggy and the rubber is exposed to way more sunlight tha a sedan......?

My buggy sits in a garage for most of its life.

I don't go for that story at all.

I wish I could find an industrial boot "cross over " part that could work
before I get into doing this all over again with the urethane.

I've got a few pair of the " bisquick boots " in my tool drawer if any one wants them. Just stop by...

slalombuggy · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:59 am Post subject:

I've seen them rot under a sedan just as fast as on a buggy. They're just made if sht rubber, your parts guy is full of the same. Mine lasted less than a year. Always under a car cover when not in use and less than 300 miles before they crapped out.

brad

mark tucker · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:46 pm Post subject:

it would be nice if they were made with a greezzee fitting on them too.

gr8cobbler · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject:

Anyone got a quick link to the urethane models?
_________________
Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money. Smile

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

A scan thru the web shows Andy's auto sport in Morgan, CA.
They have a balljoint and tie rod "boot store"...
Looks like urethane and rubber.
Couldn't find any vw listing on first attempt... But there maybe a close cross over.

I would just be concerned that his supplier for the VW specific products are the same suppliers that have supplied my supplier... Confused

At this point I would prefer a close " cross over " in rubber.

Could call and ask when I have time....

slalombuggy · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:28 am Post subject:

gr8cobbler · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:06 am Post subject:

Thanks Brad Smile

There must be a quality rubber option out there for another make that can be cross referenced and will fit VWs? Or at least black urethane? The red draws just a little too much attention to an area undeserving..... Rolling Eyes

Do you suppose rattlecan paint will improve the durability? Very Happy

_________________
Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money. Smile

slalombuggy · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:31 am Post subject:

Nope, the solvents in the paint will actually make it worse. I found that out when I painted a bare tierod end black to match the rest on another buggy I built.

brad

gr8cobbler · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:45 am Post subject:

Figures, saved me an expensive time and effort lesson, thanks.
_________________
Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money. Smile

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

Gonna check out some Rennbay Porsche products... Possibly may be a cross.
They have tie rod and ball joint products. Ultra quality, looks like.
Will post my findings...

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

Below : Heard back from rennbay...... Looks good !
Sent him drawings and measurements of the vw boot... Balljoint.
Below reply from Travis :

The boots we use are just a touch bigger than your drawing but I think it may be because you took the measurements off of a used boot? The ones we use should work for you.
Ours are Italian made and they are OEM quality. They do have painted steel clips on them, top and bottom. They hold up extremely well for the 944 guys so I don't really see a longevity problem for the VW cars. On the 944 they are extremely close to the ground and get hit will just about all of the road debris.

$7.50 each http://www.rennbay.com/ball-joint-boot-oem-clips-p-180.html

Travis

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

Update:
I am going to order four balljoint boots from Travis this week if nothing else..
My tie rod ends are just done last summer so I am good for this season I hope.

Being rubber, the slight size difference should be ok but I will get one more email to him to see if his Italian supplier has vw specific boots that I can order thru rennbay..?

Either way I will update.....

gr8cobbler · Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 6:26 am Post subject:

Thanks for the research, much appreciated. I've been mildley stymied on this front for a while. My project has lots of fronts so it hasn't been a show stopper, just another unresolved item on the punch list. I've been debating if I should just replace the ball joints, but they look good. If I can get to the driving stage I should be able to better answer that question too. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Gary

Being a cheap old fart is just a front for my actual lack of money. Smile

junior55 · Samba Member Joined: October 01, 2006 Posts: 941

I put NEW balljoints on 8 years ago and that's what started this whole thing.
The balljoints seemed like a good quality but the rubbers that came with them
just broke into flakes after 1 year....
Been thru many sets thereafter.

Not so funny part of this is that the old original 1966 rubbers that I threw away
were soft, pliable, no cracks @ 40 plus years old...


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