Upper ball joints on mid 50s Fords were very durable. My 57 car had the originals in it until a year ago. As we were replacing the A arm bushings we replaced them because it was apart. For bushings you can try Joblot Automotive in NY.state. The price was reasonable thru my local old car center. However, I don't know where they were manufactured...

Paul

A kit from Kanter is 249 and on E-bay 399, it's never easy to do right. Have to ask, do you have ö on your keyboard

Bernt, South Sweden. 1956 Victoria 2 Door Hardtop

It depends on what they are selling.Is it öffshore stuff  or quality USA items.Quite a difference in price though from those 2 sources.

  

Hi over there.

I am just doing a new shopping list for my next trip to CA, that will be to Hot Rod Reunion, Bakersfield in October

This winter it's time for the front end to be done. I found ball joints for 150 usd from Egge's and from C&G Ford Parts it is 50 usd and this x 4 is 400 dollars different in price. Is it so much differens in quality on this parts or is it just the shops pricing that is crazy?

Bernt, South Sweden. 1956 Victoria 2 Door Hardtop

I bought new upper arm bushing kits about 2 years ago and I am  pretty sure they were Moog.That was from my local parts store.Very good quality. I ordered lower arm mounting kits from Carpenter which included new bolts and hardware as well as the 4 bushings.Opened the box-made in China.I used the bolts and bought new wide nuts-the ones in the box were skinny ones which puts far less threads in contact with the bolt.I would much rather had NOS or NOSR from USA but I coudnt reuse my old ones-too corroded.Sold the bushings which were REAL soft and used USA replacements.Emailed Carpenter and made them aware I was NOT impressed.They offered refund but I needed the bolts.Hope they are better quality  than the dairy products that killed those babies a few years back in China.Give me NOS USA anytime!

  

Lon,  use a little "vegemite" instead of grease, that  crap should hold those ball joints together forever!!!!

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

John,Frank .I agree with you on the ball joints .When I rebuilt the Victoria ,I replaced every nut & bolt on the entire chassis ,except the ball joints .They showed no sign of wear at all .Thanks to all the other replys as well. Think I will start with upper & lower control arm bushes and see what else I have to replace .I have already bought  shocks ,bump stops ,& sway bar end kits .

Lon

yblocksdownunder

I got a kit from Kanter about 6 or 7 yrs ago for my 57Bird.  As I recall, they offerred 2 options and I bought the one that had the most components, and of course the higher price.  In my case, they made the car handle like new.  I was and am very pleased with it. 

Joe in Washington state/puget sound

If you still have OEM ball joints, they made a repair kit for them. They turn up on ebay fairly often. Much better than the offshore stuff...

BOO- YA!!!

Check with Kanter. I have bought front end parts from them and I am satisfied. You will have to ask them the origin of the parts. www.kanter.com Ditto about the original ball joints. I have a 54 and a 56 and the ball joints did not need replacement while almost everything else did, especially on the 54.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ