remember something about an updated balljoint.

what is the difference between early and updated balljoint?

thanks,
dr

early ones use a pinch bolt that tries to clamp the ball joint shaft. they always wear eventually and ruin the strut.

later ones use a wedge pin to retain the notched shaft in the strut. much better.

you -can- file a notch into an early ball joint and use it with wedge pin bolt struts - but i can't recommend it. new ball joits are not -that-0 expensive ...

so - sharp notch means a later ball joint; radiused slot means an early ball joint.

all the ball joints fit all the A-arms - the joints must match the strut.

Here's a late model wedge pin.

John

there was a change in the method of fastening the ball joint

but there is also a whole different ball joint/a-arm on really early 911's... I think that they were only used on SWB cars..

i remeber hearing the change in ball joints was dur to the maufacturer unable to meet production deman

All sorts of myths out there... The change was due to older units mounting hole showing a possible wear situation by "ovalizing" at the bottom of the strut. This caused eratic steering behavior.

They changed the method of securing the strut in 72 for the 911 and 73 for the 914. The original method was to have a split in the struts and then secure the ball joint by tightening up a bolt, which would tighten up the slit around the ball joint.

On the new struts the bottom was made solid. A wedge bolt (pictured above) goes into the strut, fitting into a "slot" in the ball joint. Tightening the nut on the bolt pulls the wedge into the slot in the ball joint.