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Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:07 pm
by rogerowen
Just went to fit new ball joint to steering rack only to discover it's too big - as in - the hole is bigger than the rack end. It must be that I have a different car steering rack??? Mini, Midget, HEEEELP! :( :( :(

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:46 pm
by bmcecosse
I believe the size changed at some point - I assume you are fitting new Track Rod Ends? Spridget uses the same rack (upside down - as it happens..) . See item 60 on the MOSS cat.. early cars 9/16" and later cars 5/8". http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=17090

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:13 pm
by rogerowen
Thanks BMC, I'll take a look at that link.

Cheers :D

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 1:10 am
by mike.perry
Yep, you have the wrong TRE, you need the small one. Weren't you asked which one you needed?

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:31 am
by rogerowen
mike.perry wrote:Yep, you have the wrong TRE, you need the small one. Weren't you asked which one you needed?
My car is 1960 (1st registered) - so I ordered the ball joints for 'late '59 onwards'. Maybe my car was manufactured early '59 and stood around for a bit - or the earlier type steering rack was fitted at some point. BM might take the wrong joints back - but I've already opened one from its plastic wrapper, greased it and smothered the internal thread with copper grease :-? It would be interesting to find out the manufacture date of my car, it has a Stewart Arden supplier plate on the bulkhead - maybe it was in the showroom for a while :lol:

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 12:20 pm
by mike.perry
I think that the larger diameter racks were fitted with the 1098 engine 1963 on. I do not have any reference books available but if I am correct then I think that you have a case for replacement, grease or not.

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 8:05 pm
by bmcecosse
They don't cost a lot....sell them on here rather than spend money sending them back. Things like TRE etc are better bought in your local Autoparts place (not Hellfrauds...) - no postage to pay, and if you go in wearing overalls (not spanking new/clean... :roll: ) and grubby hands - and ask for a Discount - good chance you will get it!

Re: Ooooops! Balljoints

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 10:43 pm
by rogerowen
bmcecosse wrote:They don't cost a lot....sell them on here rather than spend money sending them back. Things like TRE etc are better bought in your local Autoparts place (not Hellfrauds...) - no postage to pay, and if you go in wearing overalls (not spanking new/clean... :roll: ) and grubby hands - and ask for a Discount - good chance you will get it!
Thanks BMC, Yer quite right! Got 10 % of for 'trade' doing exactly that! no one's got dirtyer overalls thas mine - I don't wash them , just every now and then give them an oil change! :D :D :D