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Is this ball joint taper the same as the Opels or do you also need to use a reamer? Which Chrysler products does this ball joint fit? I guess this is a screw in ball joint and you weld a sleeve in on top of the lower control arm.will probably use a similar method to the raised ball joint in your photo...I have done this for years via another method...a Chrysler ball joint which is taller, and basically accomplishes the same thing. It also changes the roll center, which was more in line with my original intent. I can improve the camber gain substantially this way.
It's the same taper, but it's a larger diameter, so it still needs to be reamed out. I don't know the exact fitment application, but it's a common item in the racing world, most aftermarket a-arms use some variation of hte Chrysler ball joint. Yes, it's a screw in ball joint, and the a-arm must have the OEM ball joint area machined out, and the sleeve fitted in place and welded. It does not sit on top of the a-arm. You will also need to modify a ball-joint socket to fit it into the GT a-arm without hitting when you torque the ball joint into place.opelgt722002 said:Is this ball joint taper the same as the Opels or do you also need to use a reamer? Which Chrysler products does this ball joint fit? I guess this is a screw in ball joint and you weld a sleeve in on top of the lower control arm.
Yes it will lower the font of the GT. How much depends on where you install the sleeve in the arm and how deep you ream the spindle. You are correct in that it won't stiffen the front end as a stiffer spring would but it will be stiffer than if you had added shackles.opelgt722002 said:
As I understand it, this will lower the front 1 7/8" without the harsh ride that usually results with lowering the GT. Does it also eliminate the bump steer issue?
It is just like Bob says, no more no less. And I know because i've it under my car for several years. Especially good working by hard braking and high speed corners.RallyBob said:In simple terms, it's a 'strut rod'. If you look under the front of many Japanese small pickups, or early strut-type front suspensions on Datsuns and Toyotas, etc, the lower a-arm is supported or triangulated by the use of a strut rod.
The GT has a very narrow lower-arm mounting bolt pattern, so it tends to flex fore and aft quite a bit. So in the early '70's many GT and Kadett tuners such as Irmscher, Conrero, and Steinmetz added a strut rod to the lower a-arm to stabilize the front suspension.
It acts three-fold....it helps to prevent the a-arm from bending in an impact (which GT's are very prone to do), it stabilizes the car under braking (as mentioned on the website above), and it keeps the caster angle more consistent under duress.
Bob