Lower Ball Joints 1963

[Ray C.]

I hope to rivet the ball joints to the upper and lower A-arms this evening and have a question. When I removed the old ball joints from the lower A-Arm there was a steering stop bolt holding the rear mount of the ball joint? Is this correct method for securing the lower ball joint? The replacement ball joints have a smaller stop that what I removed.

Thanks for any Help!

Ray

[Joe L.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

Ray-----

Original ball joints were riveted to the a-arms. Consequently, there was no stop bolt. Stop bolts are a feature of SERVICE ball joint kits, including GM SERVICE ball joint kits.

If you are actually going to use the bolts for attachment of the new joints, then I would use the stop bolts provided with the kit. There are several different configurations of these bolts depending upon the ball joint kit used.

[Ray C.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

Thanks! Joe

Ray

[Jack Y.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

Can you tell me what a 'stop bolt' might be?

Thanks!!

[Joe L.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

Jack-----

It's a bolt with a large, round head that is often found in SERVICE lower ball joint replacement kits. It's designed to serve as a "steering stop". I don't know why most kits include this as the original configuration used rivets for attachment and there was no stop. At least, there was no stop as far as the ball joint installation and area was concerned. All 1964-82 Corvettes had steering linkage stops welded to the lower crossmember. The configuration of the stops changed VERY slightly beginning with the 1978 model year.

I believe that these stop bolts are completely unnecessary with Corvette ball joint installations. However, they are supplied with the kit and they are "equally incorrect" as the hex head bolt used for the other side of each lower ball joint. So, if one is going to use bolts, it doesn't really hurt anything to use the stop bolts supplied with the kits---they're already there.

[Jack Y.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

Thanks for the info. Since I have a 63 with original ball joints I will try to take a look at a 64-78 with the stop bolt in place.
Thanks again!!

[Joe L.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

Jack------

When you get the original ball joints out, I'd like to see a picture of them.

[Jack Y.]

Re: Lower Ball Joints 1963

I will certainly do that. Since the most high tech piece of equipment I have is a dwell meter, I will borrow a camera.

Thanks for contributing all you(and others) do. I learn alot and don't even have to ask a question!