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SlugBugLV Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2006 Posts: 6
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 4:36 pm Post subject: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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I ordered new Ball Joints for my '66 Beetle from Wolfsburg West. A local shop pressed them into the torsion arms and I installed them. The first thing I noticed was that the washers did not fit over the BJ threads, so I drilled them out. When to trying to put the upper BJ into the eccentric, it does not seat. It appears that the BJ taper is too large to fit into the eccentric (see pics). I called WCM and they said there are no other BJ's for this year, so I must have the wrong size eccentrics (?). I have since ordered a new set of eccentrics from WW, after confirming that their eccentrics have larger openings in them. I am hoping they will fit into the hole in the steering knuckle.
Has anyone seen this before? Are there different sizes eccentrics (smaller) on other VW models and someone along they way swapped out steering knuckles, BJ's, etc.?
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runamoc Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006 Posts: 5593 Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2022 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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'67 'stuff' was of a smaller diameter that '69 'stuff'. Like tie rod ends and inner wheel bearings, not sure of ball joints. _________________ Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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heimlich VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 6558 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2022 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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What was the brand of ball joint? _________________ www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
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SlugBugLV Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2006 Posts: 6
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2022 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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Wolfsburg West does not state brand and their tech guy says these are the only BJ's they sell:
Description: BALL JOINT, 1966-1970 Bug, 1971-1977 standard Beetle, lower, fits left and right, each. German. |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2003 Posts: 4863 Location: Harmony, PA
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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Thing eccentrics have a larger hole for a larger joint shaft. Maybe the joints you received are mistakenly packaged Thing joints. |
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SlugBugLV Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2006 Posts: 6
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2022 11:39 pm Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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Thanks for the replies, I am still waiting for my new eccentrics.
Does anyone know if all eccentrics are the same OD, meaning - will the ones that fit my BJ's, still fit into the hole in the steering knuckle.. |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2003 Posts: 4863 Location: Harmony, PA
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 5:21 am Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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I would get a caliper, do some measuring, and calling on specs before ordering any more parts. There are three different eccentrics similar to a Beetle, Type 1 for Beetle/Ghia, Type 181 for Thing, and Type 2 for the Bay Buses. Pretty sure a Bus Ball joint isn’t going to fit in a Beetle torsion arm, so that pretty much rules that out. Either your ball joint was made incorrectly, or packaged incorrectly. In the hundreds of joints I’ve installed in arms/on cars, I’ve never had an issue with the eccentric not fitting properly with at least five different manufacturers joints. Any of the aftermarket eccentrics I’ve used have been the exact dimensions of the stock ones, outside, and inside diameter. I’m going to assume the new eccentrics you get are going to do the same thing as the ones you have. |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3790 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Ball Joints Don't Fit in Eccentrics |
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Too bad auto parts manufacturers/distributors don't do exactly what McMaster-Carr does for all of their hardware/tooling products: publish detailed 2D illustrations of every critical aspect of said part. In this case, a drawing might include the min/max serrated cup interface diameter, taper diameters top and bottom, taper length, taper angle, thread specs and usable thread (stud) length, and so on. This way if one had drawings of all mating pieces, it's the consumer who can successfully order with confidence and piece together all of his/her parts knowing that it will all go together. Yeah, auto parts companies and retailers suck dicks in this regard.
Rant over. |
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