I was thinking of purchasing nuts of the same grade and thread as the castle nuts on the lower ball joints and using them as spacers on the ball joints to help correct my lowered car's roll center. I've seen washers used on other applications to the same end; I just figured I'd use a nut for better strength. Ideas/comments?

If this has been discussed before, I apologize, but I have not been able to find it in my searches.

 

Bump.... Anyone?

 

great idea...not sure how strong it would have to be....ie... what grade of bolt and thread pitch

 

Thread pitch would be dictated by the threaded portion on the balljoint. As far as grade, maybe someone else can chime in...

 

well of course it would be the same thread pitch, but aren't you going to use a longer bolt which are usually not as strong? how much/how many washer/size nut were you thiking of using? did you have a certain angle in mind for the LCA in total?

 

is the threaded section actually long enough to accomodate a second bolt?

 

I thought about this after I posted (), and I'm not sure. It seems as though it should at least accomodate a small nut or some washers, but on inspection I doubt that that would be good for any more than a 5-degree correction or so.

Anyone know off-hand what the thread pitch/size is?

 

sorry, don't know, but even a 5 degree correction would allow a good deal more lowering while still keeping the LCA at a better angle...

I would use a nut and a locking washer myself...but good luck on the project...

 

Really? I might try it then.

Great idea.


Guess the only thing to do is head out to some hardware stores tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

 

Can't help you on the threads as I haven't tried playing with mine yet. You're probably looking for SAE Grade 8 or better steel (not stainless) stuff. I couldn't figure the 5deg angle but can work with exact dimensions.

a 15mm (.60") drop at the balljoint should raise the roll center about .2" on a stock susp, or 1.2" on a typical lowered A32 susp (1.7" lowered). I choose 15mm just because it was the shortest castlenut I found on McMaster's site.

I'm kinda guessing at these as I haven't finished identifying my exact roll center yet and have to re-measure some attachments this weekend.

FWIW, a B13 Sentra dropped it's ride height only .5" resulting in a roll center drop of over 2.5"! Crazy math indeed.
http://www.geocities.com/g_wellwood/...ollcentres.jpg

 

Thanks a bunch, Bejay1. Was hoping you'd chime in.

Are the LCA balljoint castle nuts the same thread size/pitch as the outer tie rod end castle nuts, by any chance?

 

good info...

 

UPDATE:

This doesn't look possible at all without either pressing in a new ball joint or jimmying up something relatively ingenious. The big problem is holding the LCA in place laterally if it's not sitting on the tapered portion of the balljoint.

By the way, in case anyone cares, the LCA balljoint, strut bolts, and tie rod adjustment nuts all have the same thread size and pitch. The outer tie rod balljoint nut is different.

Anyone know of any good hardware stores in the greater Philly area that have very high-grade metric fasteners and related items?