Translator ball joints / shift improvemnt

[Paul93Lotus]

Found yet another source for these ball joints:

www.midwestcontrol.com They have both US and UK distribution

http://www.midwestcontrol.com/97.php

These models may work:

DMHSS-6 M6X1.00 RH (stainless)

http://www.midwestcontrol.com/catdisplay_short.php?pg=235

SSM-6 M6X1.00 (stainless)

http://www.midwestcontrol.com/catdisplay_short.php?pg=500

DMC-6 M6X1.00 (low carbon steel with zinc plating)

http://www.midwestcontrol.com/catdisplay_short.php?pg=101

DMQ-6 M6X1.00 RH (low carbon steel with zinc plating)

http://www.midwestcontrol.com/catdisplay_short.php?pg=504

I received my stainless ones in the mail and installed them last weekend. Have driven over 80 miles with no problems, so I can now say they are 100% compatible. They are stainless, do not have an exposed joint on the back side (sealed) and have a rubber dust guard. Way superior to the originals which looked pretty bad after 38K miles on my car. $32 US shipped. The only down side are these have a little shorter barrel, but there is plenty of threaded rod to spare at the cables and adjustment rod, so no adverse effects.

I purchased the DMHSS models. The others may work if they share the same dimensions as the DMHSS ones....I just wanted to let the board know of a good source in both the US AND the UK. These being stainless will also likely prevent any galling on the 'ball' portion of the joint. I'll try to post a picture to show them installed. Replacing the old ones helped my shifter movement feel more positive, which still had a little slack even after doing the gearshift mechanism rebuild.

Edited February 14, 2007 by Paul93Lotus

[Jonathan]

Buggers. The contact I had with them wouldn't sell me at under 50 pieces each

If you can get a rod end with a lh thread you can get a jacking screw as well and do away with the tricky tie rod adjustment.

[Paul93Lotus]

Buggers. The contact I had with them wouldn't sell me at under 50 pieces each

If you can get a rod end with a lh thread you can get a jacking screw as well and do away with the tricky tie rod adjustment.

Hmmm...not sure what the UK distribution is like. The US one just allowed me to order 4 online at a price of roughly $5 usd each plus shipping and handling.

[Jonathan]

Thats good !

I looked at them about 3 months ago here and whilst they were helpful the batch sizes were too big.

In all fairness I could have got them from USA but by the time they got here and everything the UK Espritism kit was about the same cost / quality.

Now, where to find them bloody rubber boots for them !!

[Drfatz]

Funny, I was just looking through catalogs for some ball joints to rebuild my linkage. If it is any help I also found the parts through McMaster Carr who by the way supply EVERYTHING you could possibly need. I use them to buy everything from sheets of metal to precision fittings and machine tools. They have the bearings for the translator as well. They really are fantastic!

http://www.mcmaster.com/

[pitstoppete]

Thats good !

I looked at them about 3 months ago here and whilst they were helpful the batch sizes were too big.

In all fairness I could have got them from USA but by the time they got here and everything the UK Espritism kit was about the same cost / quality.

Now, where to find them bloody rubber boots for them !!

silly rubber boots from lotus when i got mine, Jon.

[fjmuurling]

I fitted the kit from Lotus and it included the rubber boots as well. I don't have the Lotusnumber for the boots though only the Lotus number for the whole overhaul kit.

Freek