Extended Ball Joint issue
Has anyone else noticed play in these extended ball joints. I was checking my frt whl brgs for play and noticed that both frt lwr ball joints have about a 1/16" play up and down. There is none sideways in the socket but quite a bit straight up and down. These were installed last spring and have 10 track days only. Those who have them should check. I can't believe I am the only one especially since the movement is identical in both.Try lifting the tire straight up and down. Mine has no slack it you pull in and out at the top and bottom.
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No play in mine. Installed early last spring. About 10 track days on them and a few thousand street miles.
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Is it the ball moving in the socket or the spindle moving up/down on the stud of the ball joint?
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Could the LBJ be moving on the FLCA from not being bolted in securely?
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Originally Posted by afm
(Post 1376273)
Could the LBJ be moving on the FLCA from not being bolted in securely?
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The ball is visably moving up and down in the socket when the tire is lifted with the car on a hoist. I had a PM from a person saying he had the same issue but doesn't want to post publicly and offend his vendor which installed them and does all his work. He has went back to the OEM ones.
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i suppose i need to check mine.
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OEM or die on ball joints.
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I'll give mine a check next time the car is on the lift. I've had quite a few track miles on them and a number of autocross...haven't noticed a problem yet.
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I sure hope this doesnt become a common problem. I have a new set of ELBJ to go in after my third set of failed lower OEM style joints.
Check your ball joints people! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ca4b6c82ff.jpg |
Originally Posted by Oh4One4
(Post 1376650)
I sure hope this doesnt become a common problem. I have a new set of ELBJ to go in after my third set of failed lower OEM style joints.
Check your ball joints people! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ca4b6c82ff.jpg |
Originally Posted by Oh4One4
(Post 1376650)
I sure hope this doesnt become a common problem. I have a new set of ELBJ to go in after my third set of failed lower OEM style joints.
Check your ball joints people! |
Two OEM sets and a Moog set.First OEM set came on the car and lasted about 100k with a few autocrosses. OEM went back in lasted about two years of street driving and 6 track days with a few autocrosses. Moogs lasted about a year and a half with almost all street/ mountain driving. Maybe two autocrosses. Almost all on Hoosiers or 200tw tires, and other than the first set almost entirely at 3.2 -4 Degrees negative camber and 800In/# front springs.
EDIT; 6k-7k street miles per year. |
If anyone has issues, please pm me. While this group is known for being hard on their parts, the ELBJ's are supposed to take it. I talked with the manufacturer and had them do some testing. They did a static test, pressing down on the ELBJ's with a 4 ton press, and they did not fail. However, we all know that racing causes cumulative deterioration--what might be fine today may fail tomorrow.
For that reason I've asked the manufacturer to review and beef up the design. They'll be making the forging larger, and we may go to a larger ball socket as well. That said, our current known failure rate is five out of 1,000. While there are very few race parts that have a warranty, I will stand behind these ball joints. Anyone who purchases from the current stock will get a "no questions asked" replacement, although I do ask that you pay for shipping. |
Thanks Cord I well PM you. My car is very fast and gets driven hard on the track on hoosiers. As for FACTORY OEM joints the same set has been in the car for 5 years of this abuse plus the 100,000 miles that was on the car [original owner and strictly street driven stock] and they are still tight. The only reason I changed them was to get same 4* neg camber with a little higher ride height.
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I lost one too. PM'd.
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Originally Posted by cordycord
(Post 1378520)
If anyone has issues, please pm me. While this group is known for being hard on their parts, the ELBJ's are supposed to take it. I talked with the manufacturer and had them do some testing. They did a static test, pressing down on the ELBJ's with a 4 ton press, and they did not fail. However, we all know that racing causes cumulative deterioration--what might be fine today may fail tomorrow.
For that reason I've asked the manufacturer to review and beef up the design. They'll be making the forging larger, and we may go to a larger ball socket as well. That said, our current known failure rate is five out of 1,000. While there are very few race parts that have a warranty, I will stand behind these ball joints. Anyone who purchases from the current stock will get a "no questions asked" replacement, although I do ask that you pay for shipping. |
Any updates on reliability and longevity?
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Originally Posted by 90 Turbo
(Post 1383883)
Any updates on reliability and longevity?
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Originally Posted by 90 Turbo
(Post 1383883)
Any updates on reliability and longevity?
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0.3125%
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Originally Posted by psyber_0ptix
(Post 1383937)
0.3125%
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PM sent
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Originally Posted by cordycord
(Post 1383920)
We're at five out of 1,600 (0.003125%), and still guaranteed.
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Originally Posted by cordycord
(Post 1378520)
If anyone has issues, please pm me. While this group is known for being hard on their parts, the ELBJ's are supposed to take it. I talked with the manufacturer and had them do some testing. They did a static test, pressing down on the ELBJ's with a 4 ton press, and they did not fail. However, we all know that racing causes cumulative deterioration--what might be fine today may fail tomorrow.
For that reason I've asked the manufacturer to review and beef up the design. They'll be making the forging larger, and we may go to a larger ball socket as well. That said, our current known failure rate is five out of 1,000. While there are very few race parts that have a warranty, I will stand behind these ball joints. Anyone who purchases from the current stock will get a "no questions asked" replacement, although I do ask that you pay for shipping. LBJs from Mazda arent really the answer much any more either, they're having the same crocked cross hole quality issues the parts store ones have so I wouldn't be surprised if they're also as weak. I was really hoping these ELBJs were going to be stronger than OEM, or at least as good as 90's mazda units, and that maybe they'd end up coming out with stock sized LBJs. |
Originally Posted by mmmjesse
(Post 1384485)
out of the 5, do they show to be from a particular batch? Are they from the originals without your logo or the newer with your logo?
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Originally Posted by Leafy
(Post 1384548)
They needed to test by pulling up on the stud. Remember the wheel wants to pull the stud up as the weight of the car pushes the housing down.
LBJs from Mazda arent really the answer much any more either, they're having the same crocked cross hole quality issues the parts store ones have so I wouldn't be surprised if they're also as weak. I was really hoping these ELBJs were going to be stronger than OEM, or at least as good as 90's mazda units, and that maybe they'd end up coming out with stock sized LBJs. The new BJ's will be built for the extreme cars. Until then, there are dozens to hundreds of ELBJ's running in NASA Spec, Time Attack, SuperMiata and more. They work. |
.33% within the first year seems pretty steep compared to the old OEM ones. But thats really fine return rate outside of the actual automotive OEM world.
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Cord Old ones mailed back today. Thanks
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Quick update--no ball joints have been returned from the second batch. You can tell them because they have the logo on the bottom of the ball cup, not on top. We've only had stock of the second batch now for the past 7-8 months.
Thanks, Cord |
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