Lesson Learned

"RacinBob" (racinbob) 03/31/2019 at 20:51 • Filed to: None

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About 4 years ago I bought new lower ball joints through rock auto for our Opel GT Breadvan. I did it as I just didn’t want to race on 47 year old ball joints with who knows how many miles.

Well the thing I didn’t do was compare the taper on the joint to the original Opel part. The correct part is left, the incorrect is right. Well they aren’t even close. So as a result the point of contact is the bottom  instead of the whole body. Result was 3 years later, the joint had a fatigue failure and ended our weekend at 1/2 the race remaining.

Co mpare your parts when replacing them, because sometimes they are wrong. The new part is correct and from Opel GT source. Just a lesson learned.

RacinBob > RacinBob 03/31/2019 at 22:18

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PS - Just another comment which is the guidance to do not blame a bad part when something you have never seen failed, fails. Generally, if a car part fails it is because it is really wrong. And yes in this case it was really wrong and failed.

Hence why I replaced the other side as it was the same part as the one that failed. Had I not it would probably also failed in a year.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > RacinBob 04/01/2019 at 00:05

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opel gt.... breadvan???

thats a thing? from the factory?

O.o

*mind asplode*

GIB!

pip bip - choose Corrour > RacinBob 04/01/2019 at 03:21

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ouch

RacinBob > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/01/2019 at 08:00

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Yep, our lemons car. An opel GT with hand fabricated Kamback and Hood. Pinto motor, Mustang transmission and alfa rear axle.

We put new ball joints in it yesterday.