Balljoint Camber Adjuster help

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject: Balljoint Camber Adjuster help

While rebuilding my beam, I unfortunately misplaced my thing camber adjusters. I was able to come up with a pair of bug adjusters, but later learned of the fitment issues first hand and confirmed here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2066689#2066689

Does anyone know where I can come up with a pair of thing camber adjusters or where (preferably in southern california) a set of bug adjusters can be machined to fit thing balljoints?
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OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

mattt · Samba Member Joined: January 20, 2004 Posts: 1143

Hey Brad, Your best bet locally would be German Motor Works in Garden Grove, CA. I'd think any competent machine shop should be able to machine yours as well, however, having a Thing eccentric for them to model off of would be best.

What do you have with a Thing front end now?

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:12 pm Post subject:

i called them up. the were really no help. and right now, the thing front end is in parts all over the place. I also went to a couple of machine shops up in Ontario with no results.

it will eventually go under this car:

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

_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

crofty · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=12933

Try him. I talked to a little last week and was told he has a lot of stuff and he seemed to know things pretty good.
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Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

mattt · Samba Member Joined: January 20, 2004 Posts: 1143

GMW didn't have them to sell? Amazing! Did you speak with a man or woman? Thing Shop in AZ? I'm sure Kmann will see this thread and speak up, he always does.

Did you lose the ones that came with the beam? I have one you can borrow if you find someone to machine them.

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject:

74 Thing · Samba Member Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7390

There is a place called TC ....

I forgot the name-maybe someone here will chime in.

mattt · Samba Member Joined: January 20, 2004 Posts: 1143

Oh yeah.....TC's Old VDub Home in Tujunga, CA. Tim is a good guy, he sells every so often at Pomona too.

kubelmann · Samba Member Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3266

I went to Verdugo High in the late 60's. I built dune buggies to drive up in
Angeles Nat'l Forest/ TJ made me think of the glory VW daze///

My first one was built from my 61 vert that I bought from my mother who bought it new from the VW that was in Sunland.

mackaymanx · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:07 am Post subject:

I made my own from some beetle ones, to get the taper right use the stem from an old balljoint. This will give you the right taper and the marks on the old stem will give you the correct depth for the taper.

TimGud · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:36 am Post subject:

mackaymanx · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject:

I used a lathe not a tapered reamer.

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject:

a lathe? i'm no machinist, but that sounds hard to do with an off-center hole?
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

mackaymanx · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject:

No, it's dead easy. you set it up off the face and the original bore using a 4-jaw chuck. The hard bit is getting the taper right but you have the balljoint stem as a gauge as you enlarge the hole.

p.s. Yes I am a machinist

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

If I can't come up with anything then maybe I'll take it to the machinists at work when I go back in a couple of weeks.
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

Buckly · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject:

I see your trying to build something maybe for off road, but you could get bug ball joints and bug eccentrics, not quit as beefy, but look at all thoughs bug bajhs that kick ass.
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Cool runnins,
_______________________
Bucky

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject:

UncleDirty · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:26 am Post subject:

I feel your pain Brad, I went through the same thing went I did my Thing beam, except I tossed my old eccentrics. Yes, I threw away a pair of these hard to find 181 eccentrics, Embarassed

Why, because I had nice new type 1 units Confused

That's when I found out they were different, and also how hard they are to find.
Anyway, I ended up buying a couple tappered reams and making the type 1's work.
What a pain in the ass way to learn the difference between type 1 and 181 camber adjusters.

HamburgerBrad · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

would you, by chance, still have those reamers?
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

74 Thing · Samba Member Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7390

Can you make a set for me to fit the thing ball joints using the bug ones that have more of a camber adjustment?


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