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jtauxe 
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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 Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:59 am Post subject: |
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I just did a search for Nakata ball joints and ran across these guys, whom I have never heard of before. They offer them at $20 ea.
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/1979/volkswagen/transporter/suspension/ball_joint.html
Too bad they only have 1. 
Does anyone have experience with Parts Geek?
As for Wolfgang International, how can you tell these are Nakata?
https://www.wolfgangint.com/store/product/ball-joints-211405371a/
It also mentions a bug in the description, though these are listed as bus ball joints.
_________________
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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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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jtauxe
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:20 am Post subject: |
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Oh, my, that is very revealing. I had no idea there were such differences, and that "trusted" brands like Febi and Meyle are shilling junk.
And it is another good example (like my bit on the axles in another thread) of cheaply-made parts in the market.
Well, I know I see four new ball joints in my near future. Now, it will be a matter of sourcing decent ones. 
_________________
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
Last edited by jtauxe on Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:04 am Post subject: |
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The questions still remains do the joint that are recommended on their construction come with quality boots that will last more than a few months or years?  |
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ivwshane
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 1920
Location: Sacramento ca
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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I emailed them and asked them, they said they only use Nakata.
_________________
77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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ivwshane
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 1920
Location: Sacramento ca
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| ivwshane wrote: |
| I'll test the joints on my next day off, if I need to replace them I think I'll go with the Wolfgang reconditioned set (they use Nakata ball joints). |
not meaning any disrespect but I would never go that route again based on what I got when I bought them there. |
Damn it:|
_________________
77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| ivwshane wrote: |
I emailed them and asked them, they said they only use Nakata. |
mine from WG are supposedly Nakata also. Other than the quality of the arm cores they used when I bought mine the only other issue is the dead feel that comes from some new ball joints. Colin (Amskeptic) said it has that "new ball joint dead feel" when he drove it to compare it with the originals on the Bob D. I opened 4 boxes there at WG to get one B grade set - most of the other ones were what I would consider C to C- grade on the cores. The cores of mine they kept and would not rebuild for me, which is why I took them up to them to have mine rebuilt, were A+ grade with very little wear and no rust. That is why I would never buy another set from them. |
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ivwshane
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 1920
Location: Sacramento ca
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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That article doesn't help but to make things more confusing. They said OE was the best which is lemforder but that its not available but then said you could get it under the moog label...are they available or not?
I found a site that carries lemforder, bmaparts.com and it rockauto carries moog.
Which one should I be looking at?
And we still don't know about the quality of boots for any of them.
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77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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Joey
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 5366
Location: Nova Scotia - Canada
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DunedinSpeedster
Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2013
Posts: 60
Location: Dunedin, FL.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| It doesn't look like any of them have zerk fittings. Do you have to install them no matter what brand you buy? |
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DunedinSpeedster
Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2013
Posts: 60
Location: Dunedin, FL.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| It doesn't look like any of them have zerk fittings. Do you have to install them no matter what brand you buy? |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12728
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:43 am Post subject: |
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With all this talk, it sounds like we're still missing a definitive answer. I don't mind working on my bus more than necessary, so I'll put four different brand joints/boots on my bus and report back in a month, year, and two years. Doesn't help us now, but would that help us in the long run?
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
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jtauxe
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Sure. Run the experiment!
_________________
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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1975 Kombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2007
Posts: 2452
Location: Acton, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Lemforder are made in several different countries now so finding German made Lemforder is very hard. Now one would expect that even if they're not made in Germany they would be still made to the original spec. Hopefully. lol. I see changing the ball joints as a every 3 year maintenance procedure in the near future. lol.
_________________
Brett
“He’s decieving you boy! Reach into his pocket and take what he’s got.” Mr. Crabbs.
75 Westy auto
03 Jetta TDI
71 SB
74 Westy
Licensed pilot (single engine land VFR)
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Rust In Pieces: 72 Bug, 73 Bug, 81 Rabbit LS D 2D, 83 Rabbit D 2D, 84 Jetta TD GL, 85 Jetta D, 68 Z28 RS 302, 91 Passat 16v |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| asiab3 wrote: |
| With all this talk, it sounds like we're still missing a definitive answer. I don't mind working on my bus more than necessary, so I'll put four different brand joints/boots on my bus and report back in a month, year, and two years. Doesn't help us now, but would that help us in the long run? |
Glad someone is willing to do so.  |
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DunedinSpeedster
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Joined: April 26, 2013
Posts: 60
Location: Dunedin, FL.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, not sure why the same message posted twice 30 minutes apart.
1975Kombi….you're replacing these things about every three years (~10k miles)? So what makes my originals last 130k miles? And no smart-ass answers from anybody either. I read the destructive test Nate did on ball joints. What kind of joints is he using? Are zerks a MUST? Seems like they would be to me? |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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| DunedinSpeedster wrote: |
Sorry, not sure why the same message posted twice 30 minutes apart.
1975Kombi….you're replacing these things about every three years (~10k miles)? So what makes my originals last 130k miles? And no smart-ass answers from anybody either. I read the destructive test Nate did on ball joints. What kind of joints is he using? Are zerks a MUST? Seems like they would be to me? |
He is saying that with the crappy third world parts we keep getting we might as well expect to be replacing parts like ball joints much more often. Your original joints made it 130K or maybe 230K without needing grease so no, if you have joints of original quality then a zerk isn't particularly necessary. Once a boot fails though a zerk can save a joint until you can get a new boot installed. A plastic bag and some electrical tape will protect a joint quite well if you have a way to grease it. |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12728
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| asiab3 wrote: |
| With all this talk, it sounds like we're still missing a definitive answer. I don't mind working on my bus more than necessary, so I'll put four different brand joints/boots on my bus and report back in a month, year, and two years. Doesn't help us now, but would that help us in the long run? |
Glad someone is willing to do so. |
Alright- I have my original joints and boots on the bus now, the boots are cracking but not ripped. I have zerks installed in the factory drilled holes.
Suggestions to what four brands of BOOTS I should run? I will plan on using my OG joints as long as possible. I'll probably get the boots all in by the new year.
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
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DunedinSpeedster
Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2013
Posts: 60
Location: Dunedin, FL.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| DunedinSpeedster wrote: |
Sorry, not sure why the same message posted twice 30 minutes apart.
1975Kombi….you're replacing these things about every three years (~10k miles)? So what makes my originals last 130k miles? And no smart-ass answers from anybody either. I read the destructive test Nate did on ball joints. What kind of joints is he using? Are zerks a MUST? Seems like they would be to me? |
He is saying that with the crappy third world parts we keep getting we might as well expect to be replacing parts like ball joints much more often. Your original joints made it 130K or maybe 230K without needing grease so no, if you have joints of original quality then a zerk isn't particularly necessary. Once a boot fails though a zerk can save a joint until you can get a new boot installed. A plastic bag and some electrical tape will protect a joint quite well if you have a way to grease it. |
OK, fair enough. I'm putting Nate's slambay kit on a '78 bus and intend to replace the ball joints. I see Nate offers rebuilt torsion arms and I'm sure he's using a machined cap joint. There's also a set of rebuilt arms here on the samba with Lemforder joints installed. Neither have zerks, but if Nate is right, how can we install zerks in a joint with a stamped cap? Metal is too thin right?
And for the million dollar question….how do I tell a stamped cap versus a machined one? Can I do it going by brand? |
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Petervw
Samba Member
Joined: July 04, 2005
Posts: 1020
Location: Sarnia Ont. Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| Fortunately, for me I am still using 3 original joints, but have replaced the boots several yrs ago when they first came out...within 8 months they started to crack ...hopefully to avoid another boot replacement, I brushed permatex silicone around the entire boot and seems to work as designed to..no grease leaking out anywhere..same goes for the tie rods and drag link boots... |
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