Infamous ball-joint wedge pin

toddu · 05-31-2007, 05:08 AM

Yes, I've used the

button, but I found older posts that suggested things might change.

I have new ball joints, and new wedge pins. The wedge pin sticks out maybe a 1/4 inch. No, I have not yet compared old pin to new, but will do so tonight. Everything was ordered from our host.

The old posts suggested a bad batch of pins, but I just ordered these a couple months back. Is it ok? Should it be flush? Is it a matter of opinion?

Todd

herman maire · 05-31-2007, 05:37 AM

They should be flush... chances are you did not put them in at the right angle. When I did mine a few months ago I had to take one of them out and re align it, after I did that it went in till flush but it still needed the help from a hammer.

put some anti seize on them to, for the future

Good luck

ja78911sc · 05-31-2007, 05:48 AM

The first pair I installed were not flush. I ordered a pair from the local Porsche dealer (nothing against Wayne) and they fit completely flush. I Compared my new (the pair that was not flush) with the old and discovered a visible difference. +1 on the anti seize.

KFC911 · 05-31-2007, 06:07 AM

You may have seen my posts in the archives...BTDT. Compare the old and new wedge pins, and I bet you will see a visible difference in the taper. I sourced two sets from Pelican before getting "correct" ones from a dealer. I never took Wayne up on his offer, but as I recall, he offered to replace the "incorrect" ones.

RallyJon · 05-31-2007, 06:18 AM

Definitely worth getting OE Porsche on this one.

toddu · 05-31-2007, 07:42 AM

I'll have to take a look. I'm pretty certain I put the pin in correctly, with the mark towards the center of the housing. And as I put the pin in, the housing and BJ separated a bit (so it was seated down to far). Oh, and I had previously applied a little grease to the pin as well, just because I was concerned about it being a tight fit (I remember getting the old ones out!!).

If they are different, I sure hope my local P dealer stocks these, as I was REALLY hoping to complete this project this weekend.

KFC911 · 05-31-2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by toddu
...If they are different, I sure hope my local P dealer stocks these, as I was REALLY hoping to complete this project this weekend.

Although it wasn't acceptable to me, there are/were plenty of folks using the "incorrectly tapered" bolts with no problems that I'm aware of. If you can't source "good ones" in time, you could use simply replace them later if you wanted to.

toddu · 05-31-2007, 11:14 AM

Ok, so I've had the pin in and out about 15 times now to see if it was aligned incorrectly. Frankly, I don't see how that would be possible. Looking through the hole I can align the cutout in the ball joint with the pin hole in the strut (strut housing is quite loose on the balljoint at this point). As I push the wedge pin in by hand, the strut housing begins to turn (makes sense based on the shape of the pin I guess). Doesn't seem to be a way to stop that from happening. Then the pin gets to a point where it won't go any further. Couple not to hard taps with a hammer, and it appears it's not going any further.

Visual inspection of new pin vs. old, and they don't appear much different. But, if I stick the old pin in, strut housing turns again as pin goes in, but pin seats a little further in. To the point where a few smacks of a hammer would make it flush.

There is *plenty* of thread to engage (twice as deep as the nut maybe). So, what to do? I'm sure the camp is divided.

KNS · 05-31-2007, 11:29 AM

When I did mine, one of the pins was slightly sunken instead of perfectly flush, maybe one mm, but so was the old one before I took it out. I used the correct (new) factory pins and I figured the old one had been in there for so many years with no problems and there was no way it could go any further. It must be the strut and not the pin itself.

TWork · 05-31-2007, 11:57 AM

I ordered pins from both our host and Stoddard. Neither fit flush. There is a clear difference in the shape of the V between the original pin I pulled out and the pins I received from PP and Stoddard. After reading all the posts I could find on the issue, I'm content to have it not sit quite flush.

cbeers · 05-31-2007, 02:04 PM

Put it in, torque it properly, use the new hardware and then just keep an eye on it to settle your nerves

As said above, you can always replace them later if you want to. I don't think you put them in wrong.

Also, as I understand it, they are a "stretch" bolt and once torqued, shouldn't be re-used, but as always, there are those that do.....

-Chris

GMR911 · 05-31-2007, 06:23 PM

Mine stick out maybe 2 mm. They are not going in any further! I just keep an eye on them. Curously, if you look at the Haynes manuel, the ones they show in their picture are slightly out also? Jerry

jpahemi · 05-31-2007, 06:36 PM

Everyone has noticed that the pin has an alignment dot on the flush end; do all the pins mentioned here have it?
j.p.

KNS · 05-31-2007, 06:44 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cbeers

Also, as I understand it, they are a "stretch" bolt and once torqued, shouldn't be re-used, but as always, there are those that do.....

I put new ones in but your right, I'll bet they're re-used all the time. I'm sure there are plenty of shops that have replaced front struts and not taken the time to order new wedge pins.

toddu · 05-31-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpahemi
Everyone has noticed that the pin has an alignment dot on the flush end; do all the pins mentioned here have it?
j.p.

Pins that came out had a dot... new pins have more of a dash... technology is always improving

Going with the new pins, and I'll keep a good eye on them. I'll have the shop where it's going for the alignment (well known pcar shop here in town) give the final blessing.

Thanks guys.

toddu · 05-31-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpahemi
Everyone has noticed that the pin has an alignment dot on the flush end; do all the pins mentioned here have it?
j.p.

Pins that came out had a dot... new pins have more of a dash... technology is always improving

Going with the new pins, and I'll keep a good eye on them. I'll have the shop where it's going for the alignment (well known pcar shop here in town) give the final blessing.

Thanks guys.

KFC911 · 06-01-2007, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KC911
Although it wasn't acceptable to me, there are/were plenty of folks using the "incorrectly tapered" bolts with no problems that I'm aware of.....

Here was my take on the bolts that protrude: Although many are probably using the "incorrectly tapered" wedge bolts, they aren't "right", and are imo defective parts. Is it a safety issue? I don't know, but wasn't comfortable taking a chance. Will these protruding bolts pass a track saftey inspection? Here's my concern: If the bolt is protruding 1/8", then imo, there "might" be a safety issue since the skinny (threaded part) of the bolt is now carrying the load on the protruding side (inside the strut, instead of the fat part of the bolt that is tapered). Maybe I'm way off base, but I knew it wasn't "right" so kept looking until I got some bolts that were designed correctly. What do some of you guys (with a lot more experience than me) think?

randywebb · 06-01-2007, 12:30 PM

Why take a chance?

If you saw some weird manufacturing flaw on your ice axe would you shrug it off?

Drago · Drago's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by randywebb
Why take a chance?

+1.

Ever seen what happens when a ball joint failure occurs?

It's not pretty and very, very expensive.

BTW, they rarely fail with the car sitting in your garage.

jpahemi · 06-01-2007, 07:07 PM

Yeah, this seems to be something which one shouldn't take a chance; especially since the part isn't very expensive to obtain, even if you need to buy a few in order to get the correct one.

j.p.