I've noticed that some lower wishbones have, neat, compact lower ball joints like this one. Caterham and Elfin seem to use something similar judging by pictures on the net. The picture is from Beardmore bros website. He says it is an Opel part. Is this what Caterham use? Does anyone know what part it is and how it fits into that simple looking housing?
Rescued attachment wishbone.jpg

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Originally posted by cymtriks
... Is this what Caterham use? Does anyone know what part it is and how it fits into that simple looking housing?

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The Elfin was a collaboration with GM Holden. Most of the mechanicals are from Holden/Vauxhall Monaro , although the hubs and brakes appear to be Elfin bits - perhaps the ball joint is a GM part?

This seems very similar to what I want to do ( see post re Vauxhall ball joint taper). If its a Kadet one it would be the same as (some) Chevette ones as well as Isuzu/Holden Geminis. Alas I still have to determine this for a fact. Steve.

Some kit car firms in the UK are using the Mtero/ Late mini ball joint which is compact an has external screw threads. -- not sure how suitable it is for pull out spring loads but it is ideal for rocker type top wishbones.

The early Caterham used Triumph (more correctly Alford & Adler) uprights with a bottom screwed trunnion later Caterhams use a version of this with the screw threads machined off to allow the uses of a spherical bearing as the lowr ball joint as per early Formula Ford practice.

[Edited on 14/5/04 by britishtrident]

I believe that the mojo 2 uses a chevette type balljoint also.

The bearing "arrangement" in the picture is almost standard working practice on modern single seaters. (excluding Formula1 in most cases) Sphericals are interference fits ito a simple, accurately placed housing. The hub then has a locating pin to drop into place.

This simplifies the loading action on the suspension components, i.e. minimises bending moments, provides a more efficient method of load transfer and saves weight.

Balljoints are Opel manta/vauxhall chevette. These have a 2 bolt joint on the top wishbone, similar to a maxi one, and a press-in joint on the lower wishbone, pressed in from underneath so it cannot pull through under the spring tension.

aside to this, well worth getting out to have a look at John Beardmore's car, it is a real engineering showpiece. Had a good chat with him at Curborough sprint last weekend and he is most certainly a very good engineer (and very patient!!)

The lower Ultima Wishbones Balljoint is an Alfa unit, but I don't know which one. It is pressed into the wishbones.

Does anyone know what taper the Maxi lower ball joint is ? I need to ream out my Sierra Upright. Cheers
Rescued attachment wishbones.jpg

The maxi balljoint, which is often used these days in place of the Cortina ball joint, has a 1:8 taper or 1 1/2" to the foot as they seem to express it in the States. Cheers, Steve.

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Originally posted by britishtrident
The early Caterham used Triumph (more correctly Alford & Adler) uprights with a bottom screwed trunnion later Caterhams use a version of this with the screw threads machined off to allow the uses of a spherical bearing as the lower ball joint as per early Formula Ford practice.

[Edited on 14/5/04 by britishtrident]

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Wisbech Engineering (suppliers and builders of Hot Rods and parts) supply a screw in ball joint and housing (Metro or Princess I think) for reasonable money (about £25 quite a few years ago).

I used them with Ford struts, but the taper in the strut required mods.

JB

Hi all, i'm new here..
I just had a look under my standard 307 and the ball joint is similar. The wishbone is even more simple, because the ball joint is screwed in a threaded hub in the upright. I plan to use this system in the car i'm designing.
But: in these McPherson strut systems there are no vertical load on the balljoint, except from the anti roll bar. Is it suitable to load these parts in pull-off?
PS: appologize for my poor English, i'm from Belgium.
PPS: Nice forum indeed, i found it yesterday and spent the evening reading your tread about lower wishbones

hello Aloupol,from wich part in Belgium are you?

Hey, another one from our strange country, with nearly no kit cars and with people dirving the right side..

I'm from Liège.

Belgium is no strange country Aloupol,it's just retarded that's all.
If your Flemish is as good as my French than i guess we have no choice other than use our hoelaboela English to communicate.
The forum members love that!

Ok let's ..hoelaboela

Do you have any pictures of what you are designing/building?
Is it bike engined two seater or what.?

Kun je a.u.b in Vlaams praten

Qu'est ce que c'est hoelaboela ? J'aimerai savoir. Je n'ai pas etudie francais depuis 1968. Ich spreche deutsch auch aber nur ein wenig. Pigeon english would be the nearest thing to it. We could all learn from each other if we had voice capabilities.

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Originally posted by robinbastd
Kun je a.u.b in Vlaams praten

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Natuurlijk kan ik in 't Vlaams praten maar misschien verstaan de andere forum leden ons dan niet.

Thanks J.C. but you dont have to be brave to build your own car overhere,just soooooooooo stupid

It seems that more people on this forum speak better flemish than our royal family

Allez mannen,salut en de kost hé!

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Originally posted by Cita
It seems that more people on this forum speak better flemish than our royal family

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For pictures it's a bit early, I only have sketches showing local parts (ie roll center movement) and I'm collecting info (dimensions) of donnor parts: ball joints, engine, diff...
Here is a sketch (basic, made in 15 minutes) showing what kind of thing I plan to build.

Sorry Aloupol but i can not open the file of that drawing.I'm not much of a computer geek but if you have something in autocad i might be able to see it.

I'm not a long time member of this forum but it sure has some very knowledgable people among it's members and most of them are very keen to help!
So i think you came to the right place in the assistence of designing/building your car.
If there's anything i can do for you let me know,aldo i doubt that on my side of the country things are any different than on your side