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  • October 15, 2024, 12:23:19 AM

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Author Topic: Front Lower Ball Joints -Ludworks is thinking of making and selling them  (Read 822 times)

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Offline Evenprime

  • Eagle
  • **
  • Posts: 15
  • Thumbs Up 1

Just curious if others are interested in this.

I've been following a guy on Youtube named Ludworks and he just upgraded his Lower Ball joints using the Jaguar #JLM11860.
He mentions, "It fits most models, Vanden Plas, XJ, XJS, XJR, XJ12, etc. I recommend searching using the "XJS" model name, as it should fit every single year of that model and it was fairly popular in the US."

He also starts the video with trying to go with the aftermarket ball joints which is really just an upper with a sleeve and shows why/where it failed.

Youtube Video here:
https://youtu.be/CEIfWU6lXBg?si=SHDwfOTBjoX7ZMyl

He mentions if anyone is interested in a set to reach out. Thought I'd mention it here.

He must be on this site somewhere but I've yet to meet him - god I have so many questions! Hehe


Offline jeepneagle

  • Eagle
  • **
  • Posts: 18
  • Thumbs Up 7
His video saved me a huge headache with that whole interference issue at full bump. I had to tinker with my Rare Parts units quite a bit to get them to not rub. I'll definitely be buying his plates for the XJ joints once he starts selling them.
1984 Eagle Limited

Offline Ludworks

  • Eagle
  • **
  • Posts: 24
  • Thumbs Up 3
Well hello there.

Thank you both for the kind words and watching my video.

Lower ball joint conversion kits will be available very shortly; by the end of July at the latest. I've already produced 50 kits with more on the way, I'm simply waiting on one final part to add to the kits. I've setup a business and website dedicated to replacement and reproduction Eagle parts and I'm currently working on several more items which I think will be of interest to the community. I'll make an announcement post when everything is ready to go live. Ball joint kits will start in the $30 dollar range, and one kit takes care of both sides.

The conversion kits consist of a cutting template, two reinforcement plates, ball joint fasteners, and strut rod fasteners. All fasteners are produced domestically (i.e. made in America, not imported), are zinc plated, and are Grade 8 (or better). Welding is not required, but the first kits will have bare steel reinforcement plates for those who do with to spot weld them. Later on plated/coated plates will be available for those who don't want to weld and want a nice corrosion-resistant finish.

The conversion kits do require control arm modification. The large center hole at the end of the control arm needs to be enlarged and 4 new 5/16 holes need to be drilled. With practice each arm can be done in about 10 minutes, but for the first time it'll take maybe 45 minutes per arm.

The new ball joints are Jaguar lower ball joints. They are bolt-in and have the same stud size as the factory joints so no reaming or other knuckle modification is necessary. They're readily available from a number of manufacturers, including Lemforder, who originally made them for Jaguar. They are sealed-for-life, like the original Eagle joints, and according to the Jaguar guys they have an incredibly long lifespan. Cost in 2024 for the Lemforders ranges, but they're about $35-$40 each, however Mevotech (among others) makes their own version for about $15. I hope to have Lemforders available on the website to accompany the conversion kits in the near future.

It's important to mention that there is a design defect with the original joints, and all aftermarket ones patterned after them. In the original configuration the steering arm on the knuckle smacks into the lower control arm at some suspension heights. The more compressed the front suspension is, the worse the contact. This not only damages the control arm, but it acts like an early steering stop, preventing full-lock turning and increasing the turning radius. In addition to that, it puts a tremendous side-load on the ball joint which it's not designed for. The conversion kits fix that completely by slightly lowering the control arm relative to the knuckle and eliminating the unwanted contact.

Let me know if you guys have any questions.

Oh, I almost forgot. I'll be at the AMC show in Ridgefield, WA on the 20th. I'll be wandering around admiring the Eagles, handing out business cards, and who knows, I might take along a few ball joints kits and give some out.

 

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