C. Obert & Co. - Tech Letters

Subj: Premature Ball Joint Failure - Opinions Sought
Date: 7/29/2002 6:50:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: TBeeble

To Members of the FLU Fiat Brain Trust:

I seek your knowledgeable opinion on the following:

This morning my left lower ball joint gave way. I was driving 30 mph on a modest curve of a back road ("honest, officer"), and fortunately this did not happen yesterday on our FFO 2002 return caravan, travelling at much higher speeds, miles from anywhere, including hospitals.

Thanks to a cell phone, and strong service, I could call a flat bed to haul my three wheeler about 15 miles to Joe Magnifico at Expert Auto in Stamford. The flat bed would arrive in 45 minutes. The first car to pass me, offered me a flare. I then directed light commuter traffic until a local cop appeared fifteen minutes later. He stayed with me with his lights flashing until the flatbed arrived. The flat bed arrived at Expert Auto at 11 am, and Joe dropped everything to replace the ball joint by 1 pm.

Joe wonders whether my heavier anti roll bar caused the premature failure of the ball joint. Here are some facts related to the front suspension (in reverse chronological order):

July 23, 2002 (127,000 miles) Left lower ball joint lets loose at 30 mph on a modest curve.

July 22, 2002 (126,500 miles) Drove home from FFO 2002 - 440 miles

July 21, 2002 (126,400 miles) Competed in an autocross, passed tech and didn't get crazy). 5 runs.

July 3, 2002 (125,700 miles) left outer bracket to anti roll bar at the controller arm snaps in two, and is replaced with a used bracket

March 1, 2001 (119,300 miles) Front Bilsteins removed, factory warrantee rebuilt, and reinstalled.

July 2001 (121,000 Miles) - compete in FFO autocross, pass tech, didn't get crazy and couldn't find my way around the course, even with Chris Obert's expert guidance on the last run.

July 12, 2000 (117,500 miles) - Left outer bracket to anti roll bar at the contoller arm snaps, and is replaced with a used bracket.

April 5, 1999 (112,600 Miles) Suspension rebuild: new controller arms with ball joints, performance springs, 1" front anti roll bar with new brackets and rubber bushings. 5/8" rear anti roll bar installed.

SUMMARY: SINCE INSTALLING THE PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION IN APRIL 1999, THE FRONT LEFT OUTER ANTI ROLL BRACKET HAS SNAPPED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME AFTER 5,000 MILES AND THEN THE SECOND TIME 7,000 MILES LATER. THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AFTER 15,000 MILES.

THERE IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE OUT THERE WITH STIFFER SUSPENSIONS. ARE THESE BALL JOINT AND ANTI ROLL BAR BRACKET FAILURES MORE COMMON WITH STIFF SUSPENSIONS OR DOES SHIT HAPPEN...MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR OPINIONS.

Tim Beeble
Bethel, CT
1974 Fiat 124 Spider

Of course without inspecting the failed part, all I can offer is some background, so I wrote it up as the Spring 2003 Tech Tip. Thanks for including me in the "Brain Trust."
Chris Obert
C. Obert & Co. (formerly Fiat Plus)
2131 D Delaware Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
(831) 423-0218
(831) 459-8128 Fax
(800) 500-FIAT (3428) Orders Only
C. Obert & Co.