AZhitman Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Pete (ppeters914) and I have been discussing my latest undertaking... A full rehab of the front suspension on my 411 wagon. It's been understood (or so we thought) that Part # 40160-24000 was the lower right ball joint for the 411, with the lower left having a different part number (and unobtainable). I recently purchased what I believe to be the last 4 OEM ball joints available (40160-24000). I recently disassembled everything and cleaned the old parts for thorough inspection. Closer inspection reveals there's absolutely NO difference in the 40160-24000 and the original lower left ball joint. The ball joints on my car are identical (L to R) and also match exactly the 40160-24000 Nissan OEM part. So, this begs the question - How can this be? Why would Nissan issue a different part number to two identical parts? Quote Link to comment
freaky510 Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 I can get them for 95.00 each :blink: . they only had the 1 part numder for both sides at my local nissan dealer. i will also check on them at the local parts guy when i pick up my motor mounts today. Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 I paid $75 each... Maybe I'll hang onto the spare pair as trade bait! Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 I can get them for 95.00 each :blink: . they only had the 1 part numder for both sides at my local nissan dealer. i will also check on them at the local parts guy when i pick up my motor mounts today. Really? According to two reliable, Datsun-friendly parts dudes, the 410/411 ball joints (all the part numbers) are NLA. The only ones I've seen are the uppers and (formerly) lower right aftermarkets from eBay seller soldonline-northbay. Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Really? According to two reliable, Datsun-friendly parts dudes, the 410/411 ball joints (all the part numbers) are NLA. The only ones I've seen are the uppers and (formerly) lower right aftermarkets from eBay seller soldonline-northbay. Yep. Here's the last OEM ones in existence... ;) And here's a pic of a shiny new OEM right side ball joint on a recently-restored left side control arm, ready to be reinstalled. Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 That's car porn! Love it! :lol: Powder coat, rattle can, or....??? I need to do mine, but not gonna worry about it for a while. Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Just rattlecan. My blaster is out of commission, so I just did the wire wheel / degreaser on the control arms. Quote Link to comment
gcmustang Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Here is what I do on suspension parts, bead blast and POR15 and it looks like they have been powder coated. Very tough too. No worries of UV issues sine the sun does not shine on these parts Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 As do I. However, these were a quickie job, just to keep them from corroding while I await arrival of more parts (and fix my blaster). Quote Link to comment
freaky510 Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 i went to my local parts house and they said maybe. 45 each will know by friday Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Better tell Pete before he sends me some money! :) Quote Link to comment
freaky510 Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 shit i will buy them if they can get them for that price Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 I'm still getting yours, Greg, as they're OEM. The parts house, if they have 'em will be aftermarket, I bet, and those are available for approx $30 from eBay. ...but Freaky can pay $45 if he wants to. :lol: Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 :) Got mine installed. Figured out what MIGHT be the "difference", but it's so damn minimal it's absurd. Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 :) Got mine installed. Figured out what MIGHT be the "difference", but it's so damn minimal it's absurd. Well, don't just tease us, give it up! Quote Link to comment
AZhitman Posted April 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 The only thing I THINK might be different is this (and this may just be loose manufacturing tolerances for all I know): The holes are offset minimally to one side on each ball joint, to opposite directions (R vs L). When you insert the ball joint flange in the control arm, the holes will appear to line up ALMOST perfectly, with a sliver of the ball joint flange showing in each of the 2 bolt holes. If you line one up perfect, the other is off more. If you line up the other one perfectly, the opposite one is off more. I lined them both up to split the difference - where there was MAYBE 1/32" of a crescent of flange showing in the bolt holes. I took the drill press to them (to shave the flange), ran in some Grade 8 bolts, and done. If they ARE INDEED different R to L, it's a colossal waste of money on Nissan's part, because there's absolutely no reason for them to be offset differently. Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted April 15, 2010 Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 Terrific! I needed an excuse to buy a drill press, however, I'll probably just go use a friend's. NOTE TO SELF: Find friend with drill press. :lol: Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 ppeters914 You are a hoot! Good info AZHitman. Quote Link to comment
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