Date:         Tue, 31 Oct 2000 07:01:59 +0200
Reply-To:     Juha Koivisto <juha.koivisto@TEPCOMP.FI>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Juha Koivisto <juha.koivisto@TEPCOMP.FI>
Organization: Tepcomp Oy
Subject:      Lower ball joint --- original vs. cheapo
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Yup,

I replaced lower ball joint on the right side yesterday.  I separated the
steering knuckle and local VW shop pressed old one out and new one (note:
not original part) in for FREE!!!

Next time I'll buy original part and if you read on you will understand why.

The lower ball joints on the market could be divided to three categories
according to they price.  There are 80 USD units, 38 USD units and 23 USD
units at least here in Finland.  You can imagine which one is original
part..yes, 80 USD one.

I wonder what would be the difference between these?
So I go to the trap and bought the middle priced.  It is high quality joint
manufactured by TRW (or under that name).  It certainly looked good one.

The only differences I noticed were the circlips of the boot.  The lower one
is like rubber ring (??) and in original it was three wounds of steel wire.

The naked truth reveals when mechanic pressed this one in (yes, with tools
shown in Bentley)...it is made from metal which is 'soft as rubber' as he
said.  The press forms the collar of the joint very badly.  Otherwise it
seems working.

Time will only show how long it last!

Regards,

Juha Koivisto
88 Vanagon (Caravelle) 1,6TD (old school bus with 9 seats)
TURKU, FINLAND