posted 04-28-2018 01:52 PM                  

This may help you with some ideas. Video explains their design concept.
http://www.esmrace.com/product-p/ecdc.esmfrtlbjk.htm

ESM Racing

ESMRACE.com

posted 04-28-2018 02:37 PM                  

I LOVE the way his tapered bolt shank was done with a steel sleeve and a standard internal-wrenching SHCS. I DO NOT DO NOT like the way his spherical bearing loads into the housing from the top and is only secured by a tight fit and a tiny snap-ring groove.

My version loads from the bottom and is prevented from coming out the top at 40 MPH, by a beefy shoulder in the
housing.

THE BIGGEST difference is my spherical "ROLLER" bearing which actually rolls as the steering wheel is turned, where his plain spherical bearing just slides. It's basically a ball and socket like a regular ball-joint.

Is he prepared to work with the Prowler community to customize the fit for us. His will probably serve us just fine for years.

Here's a picture of the spherical SEE-SAW bearings on the head of my helicopter I built. These are Aurora brand aerospace grade precision spherical bearings. They have closer tolerance fits than standard ones. That's what the guy in the video shows.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tomcal:

bryancobb,

This may help you with some ideas. Video explains their design concept.
http://www.esmrace.com/product-p/ecdc.esmfrtlbjk.htm

ESM Racing

ESMRACE.com

---

posted 05-01-2018 09:25 PM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by BradleyG:

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ROBIN

---

posted 05-21-2018 12:44 PM                  

These are replacement ball joints with 95,000 miles on them and I never checked for damage.

posted 06-05-2018 04:37 PM                  

If the plastic bearing material wears, it is still retained by metal that is hydraulically formed at manufacturing time around upper part of housing. (Prowler ball joint)

Chrysler in their engineering evaluation of failed ball joints determined that rubber boot failure allowing lose of lubricant and contaminants, water being one of them, to enter joint. Rust and contaminates abraded upper area of ball joint resulting in lose of metal, causing ball to pulling free from base.

Chrysler only partially addressed rubber boot issue in recall and boots continue to fail.

I've posted this Chrysler engineering report many times. They x-rayed, stress tested, you name it.

WE KNOW THE FAILURE MODE. And it's really TRW's fault as designer and supplier.

Aftermarket folks are doing the engineering on a possible replacement, not us. Better Boot material, lubrication, more metal, whatever. A new rebuildable joint would be ideal. Some aftermarket suppliers use this concept.

While in general it's good to through out ideas and theory's, lets leave the engineering to the people who make aftermarket ball joints.

Let's focus on those people working with aftermarket suppliers to develop a more robust joint. Thus far, we have POA folks communicating with potential suppliers and POA members providing parts samples.

Lets continue to give them our full support. I know I will.

This has been a public service message. Now back to your regularly scheduled programing.

...

posted 06-06-2018 11:12 AM                  

Front boots rotate corresponding to steering maneuvers, stressing boot. Rears do not rotate.

Rear lowers can be greased, prolonging life.