Front Upper Ball Joints

[Drfatz]

I was reassembling my front suspension with the new ploy bushings when I noticed that both front upper ball joints had split boots. Since I have the whole thing apart now is the time to replace them! However, I checked the cross reference sheet and looked through some old posts, but can't seem to figure out what other cars had these upper ball joints. I hope its something cheap so I don't have to get them from Lotus!

Cheers,

Graham

[chats371l]

I was reassembling my front suspension with the new ploy bushings when I noticed that both front upper ball joints had split boots. Since I have the whole thing apart now is the time to replace them! However, I checked the cross reference sheet and looked through some old posts, but can't seem to figure out what other cars had these upper ball joints. I hope its something cheap so I don't have to get them from Lotus!

Cheers,

Graham

Hi Graham

I don't know if this is too expensive for you or any help but S J Sportscars are doing Top ball joints for the front for

[Drfatz]

Thats certainly an option, but I am going to try and get them in the United States first, hopefully at a local Toyota dealer. My thoughts are that if the front hubs are from a Celica, then shouldn't the top ball joints be from a Celica?

-Graham

Hi Graham

I don't know if this is too expensive for you or any help but S J Sportscars are doing Top ball joints for the front for

Edited April 25, 2007 by Drfatz

[Drfatz]

Thats certainly an option, but I am going to try and get them in the United States first, hopefully at a local Toyota dealer. My thoughts are that if the front hubs are from a Celica, then shouldn't the top ball joints be from a Celica?

-Graham

Hi Graham

I don't know if this is too expensive for you or any help but S J Sportscars are doing Top ball joints for the front for

[docf]

try ray at rdent.com he may even be local to you.

[andydclements]

Now just because most parts of the front suspension are Toyota it may seem logical for the top ball joints to be, but IIRC they are the same as the Europa , and those are the same as Triumph Spitfire / GT6 ball joints.

I'm assuming we are talking about pre 92 (not sure if they changed after then)

Andy

[Drfatz]

Good call on RDent doc, Ray shipped them over night to me and the ball joints only cost $30! Lotus wanted $70 per and $26 to overnight!

-G

Thats certainly an option, but I am going to try and get them in the United States first, hopefully at a local Toyota dealer. My thoughts are that if the front hubs are from a Celica, then shouldn't the top ball joints be from a Celica?

-Graham

[doct93]

The ones on my GT3 also fit Triumph spitfire and Jaguar XJ6 Series 3 if that helps anyone in the future!

Tim B

[Artie]

Good call on RDent doc, Ray shipped them over night to me and the ball joints only cost $30! Lotus wanted $70 per and $26 to overnight!

-G

Graham,

Sorry I missed this, Dave Bean has them in stock and they were like $28 each when I got mine last year. Spray 'em down good with WD 40 the day before and they'll come right out of the hub carrier.

Artie

[Drfatz]

No worries Art, I actually didn't have much trouble getting the old ones off and now the suspension is up and finished! I just have to get it properly aligned to Lotus spec when ever I get it running!

-Graham

[Artie]

No worries Art, I actually didn't have much trouble getting the old ones off and now the suspension is up and finished! I just have to get it properly aligned to Lotus spec when ever I get it running!

-Graham

Good luck with that! I set mine to Art's specs since there damn near impossible to set at a shop! Unless of course you order the shims in all the different thicknesses and understand the whole "6mm" required section of the setup procedures!

Artie

Good luck with that! I set mine to Art's specs since there damn near impossible to set at a shop! Unless of course you order the shims in all the different thicknesses and understand the whole "6mm" required section of the setup procedures!

Artie

Also, Graham, when do you expect to get the chargecooler back? I'm chomping at the bit to see it!

[Drfatz]

I should have the chargecooler by the end of this week. I will post up pictures of it whenever it shows up!

-G

Good luck with that! I set mine to Art's specs since there damn near impossible to set at a shop! Unless of course you order the shims in all the different thicknesses and understand the whole "6mm" required section of the setup procedures!

Artie

Also, Graham, when do you expect to get the chargecooler back? I'm chomping at the bit to see it!

[Artie]

Sweet. I was at the dyno today and saw a picture of "your" car on the dyno and also the numbers it made! Didn't realize they had any knowledge of the car... I snooped and asked around if they knew anything about it's history buy neither of the new owners were there when the car was there for the dyno. She made 272hp and 273 tq. Mine just did almost exactly the same numbers!

Artie

I should have the chargecooler by the end of this week. I will post up pictures of it whenever it shows up!

-G

[Drfatz]

Sweet. I was at the dyno today and saw a picture of "your" car on the dyno and also the numbers it made! Didn't realize they had any knowledge of the car... I snooped and asked around if they knew anything about it's history buy neither of the new owners were there when the car was there for the dyno. She made 272hp and 273 tq. Mine just did almost exactly the same numbers!

Artie

It is a small world especially when you own a Lotus Esprit. From my understanding the PO had done some work to the car, nothing even close to what I have done, but its good to see it was pulling strong before he decided to randomly disassemble parts of the car and sell them off To be honest I am surprised your car is only making around 280 with a new turbo and WC chip. I am hoping to achieve over 350, but maybe that