My F27 uses top cortina ball joints for the top rocker arm - upright joint.

I needed to replace one and i went to my local car place and they had some in stock. Now the one i removed does not have much material sticking out the back of the joint. But the one i have now has about 20mm sticking out the back. I thought it would just be full of grease but there is a big hefty spring in there! whats that for? i never knew ball joints had springs in them.

this is what im on about,

Description cant see what the point of the spring is, it could be to damp the in out movement of the threaded section but there should be no play in and out on a ball joint should there?

There was a kind of nylon washery type seal thing under the spring maybe its to keep the grease under pressure?

Mini and Metro joints have springs in the bottom joint.

Modern balljoints are self-adjusting most use a diaphram spring but some have a coil spring.

[Edited on 2/5/04 by britishtrident]

what does it help to adjust ? does it give it structural integrity,

would it just function like a normal "older" style joint without the spring

Ball joints with springs are used in applications where the ball joint is not under compressive load. The spring keeps a constant force on the ball, pushing it into it's socket and eliminating any clearance as the joint wears.

On a mini, the bottom joint is spring, as the top suspension arm takes the suspension loading. On a cortina, the bottom arm takes the suspension laoding so the top ball joint can be sprung.

For inboard suspension using a rocker arm, the top arm would be loaded, so a sprung ball joint is not suitable. With a compressive load on this type of joint, the ball will be pushed out of it's socket causing excessive slop within the ball joint.

Cheers for the info, oh bugger guess its not the correct type then.

Anyone got any ideas where to get an Un sprung top cortina Ball joint from?

Would be most appreciated.

Hi,
i am in the process of trying ,ho, ho, to build a f27 can you provide any info regarding, pedal box arrangements etc
thanks
Len

Hi Len,

I bought my car but i have at some point in the last 3 and a half years had almost all of it apart!

In face only a few weeks ago i had the pedal box in bits fitting a new mastercylinder, unfortunately it is all sealed up again with a bead of silicone sealant. Do you have a build manual for the car? mine uses the escort brake and clutch pedal and just a simply designed accelerator pedal. - they are all top hung not floor mounted.

A mate of mine gregf27 has built one too, he used an F27 pedal box if i remember right - again top hung, not sure if it contains f27 butchered escort pedals or bespoke ones though. Search for his name on here and send him a mail he may have more relevant info for you.

What stage are you at with it anyway?

by the way from the above info in this thread it would appear that F27 are using unsuatable top ball joints on the upright - rocking arm joint.

Col,
thanks for the info. I bought the car (hmmm) part built last year. I have only just started to look at what is needed. Basically, the chassis is complete, I have re bushed with poly bushes and fitted the rear axle, front wishbobes,sterring rack. But, i dont have a build manual?? and I am just feeling my way.
The pedals are hung from above,but fowl the steering column,the pedals are ford modified?? i think
it has a single master cylinder and i was thinking of fitting a pair to make use of a balance bar etc.
My chassis also uses Cortina ball joints, off which i have just orederd new ones!!
Any info re build would be much appreciated

thanks
Len

Len you have U2U,

i spoke to ford this morning and they only do the ones with a spring in, so where the hell my other non spring types came from i dont know. - oh ford want £52 a piece!