

| Subject: | Re: Refresh my memory about inner tie rods someone! Parts quality. |
| From: | Jim Arnott |
| Date: | Tue, 3 Nov 2020 18:55:05 -0800 |
The server didn’t like the addressing on this message, but it’s important enough to make sure it gets to the list: From Christopher at T3Technique <reply to: christopher@t3technique.com> Not that the original question was about upper ball joints, but since = Dennis brought it up, I will chime in. I agree with Dennis's assessment of the current line of upper ball = joints. As a result I am already headed down the path of having custom = upper ball joints made. I should have the samples/prototypes in hand in = about a month. Assuming all is on track, the production run should be = available sometime around the first of the year. My upper ball joints will: Have 2 degrees more articulation than a Moog = joint, be greaseable, have a durable boot, and will come with a lifetime = warranty. The joints will be available in two different configurations. = One is the upgraded version of the stock joint as described above. The = other is the same basic joint, except that it is taller than the stock = joint. This moves the pivot point of the joint upward to help compensate = for the geometry mess that occurs when lifting a Vanagon (especially a = 2wd). Handling will be improved and bump steer will be reduced. The main = benefit over simply installing upper ball joint spacers is the = improvement in both the static and dynamic geometry of the front = suspension. Upper ball joint spacers effectively make the upper control = arm appear longer which helps get the static camber in check. But since = the pivot point of the upper ball joint does not change, the dynamic = geometry (mainly the camber curve and the toe changes) doesn't change = much. The taller ball joints with their raised pivot point will help = correct that issue.=20 Better outer tie rod ends and better lower ball joints will be following = in the future, all with the same quality features as the upper ball = joints. The investment it took to get the upper ball joint program off = the ground means that the other joints will have to wait just a bit = longer.=20 Anyway, I thought you guys might be interested in that since the subject = came up.=20 Thanks, Christopher T3 Technique
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