28 replies to this topic

[Morgan9122]

Hi, Purchased 8 ball joints for suspension refresh planned for spring time. Got the Delphi TC163's from a local motor factor. On box it has the following: 'Opel / Vauxhall AK40D' The 'AK40D' is also stamped on the bottom of the ball joint as well. Has anyone else recent purchased this type of ball joint? If so, could you confirm if yours had the AK40D reference on them. Or what it the diameter of the correct sized ball joint? Thanks Kevin

[techieboy]

The TC163's I had, had AK31C stamped on the base. No idea what that refers to.

[The Batman]

the dreaded suspension refresh..... hmmm next winter im thinking... can i borrow your heated garage techie!

[M3KDJ]

Hi,

Purchased 8 ball joints for suspension refresh planned for spring time. Got the Delphi TC163's from a local motor factor.

On box it has the following: 'Opel / Vauxhall AK40D'

The 'AK40D' is also stamped on the bottom of the ball joint as well.

Has anyone else recent purchased this type of ball joint?

If so, could you confirm if yours had the AK40D reference on them.

Or what it the diameter of the correct sized ball joint?

Thanks
Kevin

The letters/numbers on the box and stamped on the joints are manufacturing batch numbers.

I've recently done all 8 of mine with Delphi joints from various batches without any issues.

HTH

Kevin

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Hi,

Purchased 8 ball joints for suspension refresh planned for spring time. Got the Delphi TC163's from a local motor factor.

On box it has the following: 'Opel / Vauxhall AK40D'

The 'AK40D' is also stamped on the bottom of the ball joint as well.

Has anyone else recent purchased this type of ball joint?

If so, could you confirm if yours had the AK40D reference on them.

Or what it the diameter of the correct sized ball joint?

Thanks

Kevin

May I ask what you paid for 8 Ball joints?

[Morgan9122]

Thanks for all the replies. I paid £9.59 each ex VAT from SC Motor Factors. Total for 8 Inc VAT and a delivery charge to supplier was £94.56 Not a bad price for all 8 (as long as they are the right ones!) Kevin

[The Batman]

is this all u need for a suspension refresh?

[Zoobeef]

is this all u need for a suspension refresh?

If you go the whole hog do the bushes aswell. And as your removing those too then you may as well go and get the wishbones sand blasted and powder coated while there stripped down

[techieboy]

You might want to budget for some new drop links for the ARB and a couple of track rod ends as well.

[slindborg]

I paid just shy of £90 for 8 ball joints and two TRE's from a local motorfactors (inc asking for discount as you dont ask you dont get )

[The Batman]

sooo.... 8 x ball joints TC163's / AK31C 2 x track rod ends bushes... how much are these? is there a set kit? sanding and painting wishbones etc can get that done so that doesnt bother me

Edited by joe_589, 10 January 2010 - 07:47 PM.

[rsg]

Only need 2 track rod ends

Bushes from Autobush or ebay

[The Batman]

do the track rod ends have to come from vauxhall?

[FLD]

It will be interesting to see how the cost of refresh compares to the cost of replacement. The EP wishbones come with ball joints and bushes at a reasonable price. Am I really that lazy? Hell yeah!

[techieboy]

Quite a few of us have upgraded to poly bushes from Autobush which seem to fit and work very well (get the 5130KC kit). Elise Parts do the standard rubber bushes, some poly bushes and some stiffer Erlatron bushes here. Cliffie also managed to source another complete kit from one of his contacts but I can't remember who that was. For the ultimate, Hofmanns and/or Nitron do some spherical bearings to replace the bushes.

You'll probably need to get some new caster shims (which you can substitute for correct sized washers) and if you go with OE rubber bushes, you'll need to get some of the rubber coated snubber washers. Might be worth getting a handful of replacement nyloc nuts for the damper bolts and tie-rods (and track rod ends, if you don't replace them). Probably worth fitting the uprated Lotus 10.9 hub carrier bolts at the same time.

[oakmere]

Thanks for all the replies.

I paid £9.59 each ex VAT from SC Motor Factors.

Total for 8 Inc VAT and a delivery charge to supplier was £94.56

Not a bad price for all 8 (as long as they are the right ones!)

Kevin

Do you have the part No. for the TRE's are the delphi or QH?

Cheers Oakmere

[The Batman]

8 x ball joints TC163's / AK31C
2 x track rod ends
bushes - £140
4 x 10.9 hub bolts - where are these from?
sand and paint wishbones etc
lots of nyloc nuts - m8 or bigger/smaller?

[techieboy]

4 x 10.9 hub bolts - where are these from?

Bought my last lot from Bell & Colvill

[The Batman]

cool, you remember how much?

[techieboy]

I think they're all M10's for the shocks and wishbones. TRE's and ball joints should come with new ones. Only odd ones are the nuts on the outboard rear track rod joint. Think they were fine pitch.