Wishbone ball on '28 A Roadster

P

psavello

Junior Member
I have read through lots of wishbone ball threads on FordBarn. Most mention side-to-side movement at the ball. My wishbone ball shows vertical, up/down play that I think is excessive. There is no side-to-side movement. Does this up/down play still mean that I should repair the ball? Or just try to take the vertical play out? If the vertical play can be taken out, how would it be done?
 
Rubber ball cap. Should this be changed to the metal-to-metal cups with the spacers and springs? If so, why is the rubber ball cap not a good one? I noticed it mentioned in many places that the rubber ball cap is not satisfactory.
 
With the oil dripping, the ball disintigrates. Easy to change. It also may have been a quick fix for an out of round ball in your case. FWIW
Paul in CT
 
Thanks for information and ideas. If the rubber is sufficiently disintegrated (and the radius ball itself measures true 1.5"), would it be best to replace with another rubber ball? Or to use the ball washer in the bottom cap to take up any slack in ball movement? I'm not clear of what the pros and cons are of each "fix." Any ideas or experiences would help me!
 
Rubber ball doesn't fit properly in standard saddle plates. The cast iron ones surround the rubber better. Don't know what the cotters are for, you'd notice loose nuts long before they would reach them.

Washer may add more wear to the ball, rubber cover won't.
 
Thanks, Badpuppy for clarification. Much appreciated. More investigation and measuring to be done on my radius ball and caps/plates.
 
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