Ball joints

[2ML67]

Rear lower ball joint is toast need to replace, any recomendations. Heard about caddy ones that lower car but forget which ones. Dan

[fiero308]

hi Dan
I am not sure which 'types' you are thinking about; there was some talk here? on PFF? about using (I think) caddyones that were, in effect, too long or short to fit properly and thus lowered the car.  I can think of all kinds of reasons to NOT go with ball joints that do NOT have the stud properly seated in the tapered hole.....
It adds a number of negative loads and stresses to the stud (extra moment; moves the shear plane from where it should be; doesn't let the 'thickest' part of the stud take the load; etc etc etc)  and I have zero doubt that the ball joint mfrs would strongly warn against doing that kind of thing.....
Don't mean to be negative but from time to time you see all kinds of things from posters so just in case that was something you were considering (but I am guessing you are talking about something else)
I would hate to see anyone take a chance on something as critical as that.....

[2ML67]

I just vaguely remembered something about caddy ball joints but couldn't remember what it was. My question is basically where's the best place to get Fiero ball joints. Dan

[NoFiero]

Dan, I bought a lot of the parts that I needed for my suspension from Odessa Auto, which is a little hole in the ground but not far from Kingston. I found their prices where good. An example MOOG inner tie rods $32.00, MOOG upper balljoints $45.00. Unfortunately I did have the price on rear balljoints from them but can't find the paper. Might be far enough from you to not make it worth while or maybe you can find cheaper in your town. I can get you the phone number if you like, or call them for you if its long distance.

[2ML67]

Ball joints now replaced, not too bad thanks to handy grinder but found a lot of play in wheel bearing on Driver's side. So next is changing wheel bearing. Maybe I should just replace everything and get it over with. Damn 18 year old car. Dan