De Lorean EuroTec

Hi all,

Don't know if you have seen this thread on DMCTalk:

http://www.dmctalk.com/showthread.php?t=13452

relating to DMCH Balljoints. There seem to be multiple reports of these joints wearing out prematurely, and all reports have so far been ignored by DMCH. They still have not responded to my private emails.

In the mean time, I'd like to find out how widespread this problem may be - has anyone here experienced issues with these ball joints?

From a safety point of view, the lower ball joint is one of the most critical areas of the car, so I think if there is an issue with these replacement ball joints which DMCH "developed", it should be taken seriously by them. Further, I think they should publish all details of their improved ball joints - are they a cross reference, or were they developed specifically for the DMC? If so, by whom, and what testing was performed?

Be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject,

Thanks,
John

Yes ...it would be good to see some official 'feed back' on this subject.

Its stories like yours that made me purchase the ones Special T sells.

All the best

Mike

Hi John. Well I know Al had a failure last week, but that was an original one - see this post: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=470

But I have heard confirmation today that we have bulk bought a few sets of the Special T Auto ones, and are on their way now, so watch this space......!


(I don't personally know of anyone who has bought the repro DMCH ones - no)

With my idiot hat on, can i just ask if there'd be a problem laying down a couple of welds between the castle nut and the stud? The nut and stud aren't supposed to move independently of each other, so there wouldn't be any stress in that area, would there?


huhu

Dave.

Hi Dave

I have one castle nut and circlip, that I could post to you...maybe you could match them up?

Al

Hi Al.

How do you mean, mate?


Dave.

I replied in wrong thread!

You need some nuts and circlips for balljoints?

Al

I found the circlips, just need the nuts!

Nuts?:




Seriously though - Al has nuts. Well he has one nut - it's a start...

I have no idea why he has only one, but could maybe take it to a nut shop and see if it can be made it into 2?

You can use nylocs but they're a sod to torque up because the shaft wants to spin instead of doing up the nut, hence the use of the castle nut.

The nut is there to maintain tension in the shaft so the taper lock is maintained. The DMCH shafts are too thin, stretch if over-torqued and cause the taper lock to break.