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avoll
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2014
Posts: 119
Location: Ottumwa
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 Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 5:12 pm Post subject: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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Anyone try the Rare Parts Ball Joints?
https://shop.rareparts.com/BE1013378-10186-BALL-JO...RANSPORTER
They any good?
They look built better than others, but there also $40 a piece.
Any ones people would recommend?
I've read a lot of bad things about various brands, so not sure what to buy. Don't mind spending the money to buy best ones.
Need them for 78 bay bus.
Thanks[url][/url] |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21519
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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| avoll wrote: |
Anyone try the Rare Parts Ball Joints?
https://shop.rareparts.com/BE1013378-10186-BALL-JO...RANSPORTER
They any good?
They look built better than others, but there also $40 a piece.
Any ones people would recommend?
I've read a lot of bad things about various brands, so not sure what to buy. Don't mind spending the money to buy best ones.
Need them for 78 bay bus.
Thanks[url][/url] |
I look on with interest of others opinions on "Rare parts"...parts.
A few years back they were listing ball joints for 411 and 412 cars. It sounded and looked great from a distance. The price was hideously high.....like....right now...O'reillys and Autozone both list the "rare Parts" ball joint for my car...for between $357 and $259....each.....and the pictures they show are of an NOS joint...not a Rare Parts built joint.
I looked at them with a hairy eye because many years ago I had seen some aftermarket joints that were constructed the same....a very thin mounting flange with externally welded on nuts. One or two people tried them and found them very unsatisfactory.
Yes I know...mine is a different car and a a difficult one....so hoping someone can confirm that they make other parts of better quality....or not....for other VW's
Ray |
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germansupplyscott
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004
Posts: 7093
Location: toronto
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| Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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The photo is a Lemforder ball joint. German made Lemforder has not been available in many years and a Bus ball joint made by Lemforder is now made in China. They may or may not be good. Probably better than most, even given where they are made. Lemforder is a solid company.
I would want to know if the photo represents the exact part being supplied or if it's a generic photo, and where the part is made.
_________________
SL |
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avoll
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2014
Posts: 119
Location: Ottumwa
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| Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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Any brands/companies anyone can recommend?
Anyone have anything good or bad to say about NAKATA Ball Joints? |
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mikewire
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2010
Posts: 805
Location: San Antonio, TX
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avoll
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2014
Posts: 119
Location: Ottumwa
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| Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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Thanks, I appreciate the help, and information.
How long ago did you install the NAKATA? They last decent?
I've read through the forums and seen the comparisons, but there's no definitive answer on what to get. Seems like there all junk, or at least a crap shoot. Was hoping something better has come along. Or someone had better up to date information.
The NAKATA on ebay seem little sketchy, there all last one for sale, and zero reviews.
Is there anything that stands out the best to buy, or they all pretty much junk still? |
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WhirledTraveller
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008
Posts: 1399
Location: Cambridge, MA
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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I bought the Nakata from ebay and the quality seems good, they don't have a country of origin on the packaging but everything is in Portuguese. They have the correct stiffness and the correct top casting.
However I just stole the boots off them because my OEM VW ball joints are still in good shape just needed new boots and there doesn't seem to be a source for high quality replacement boots. The Nakata boots seem to be made of a similar material to OEM.
I will say they seemed to be a little stingy with the grease.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam. |
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jtauxe 
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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| germansupplyscott wrote: |
| ... Lemforder is a solid company. |
Yes, and Hella and Bosch used to be reliably high quality, too, but no more.
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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germansupplyscott
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004
Posts: 7093
Location: toronto
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Rare Parts Ball Joints? |
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| jtauxe wrote: |
| germansupplyscott wrote: |
| ... Lemforder is a solid company. |
Yes, and Hella and Bosch used to be reliably high quality, too, but no more. |
You're not wrong. I try to have faith that parts manufacturers who should know better are trying but sometimes my faith is tested. Hella still make some very good items. Bosch items for our vintage of VW have gotten downright bad in some instances.
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SL |
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