Tall Ball Joints

[GaRys69]

On a 69 Camaro instead of using Tall Ball Joints, would it be better to use a spacer between the ball joint and upper control arm?
What thickness would be needed?
Seems like this would be alot stronger.

[Twentyover]

No joy w/ a spacer- you're not changing the relative location of the pivot ball with respect to the pivot axis of the control arm, you're just changing the angle of the actual arm.

For the effect of the change to be noted, the relationship of the BJ pivot, the axis of A-Arm pivot need to change. The tall ball joint does that by pushing the ball pivot further away from the upright w/the extended taper section.

Placing a spacer between arm and ball joint will not change this relationship. The virtual A-Arm (formed by the imaginary lines intersecting the pivot of the A-arm and ball joint) do not change, so no increase in negative camber gain in bump is noted

[Proforged]

The tall ball joint does that by pushing the ball pivot further away from the upright w/the extended taper section.

I was under the impression that the tall ball joint just moved the taper section down .500" - i.e. extended the stud .500" n between the ball and the taper section. Are you saying that this is incorrect?

[Marcus SC&C]

Twentyover is right. The taller studs actually move the pickup point (the center of the ball joint`s pivot ball) upward. A spacer doesn`t move the pivot point it just raises the arm. The does nother at all because the arm`s pivot points haven`t changed. High end tall ball joints are many times stronger than the tiny bolts that hold them into the arms. That goes double if those tiny bolts are used with a spacer. "Tall balljoints" can be any height that`s taller than OE. The most common ones are available from +.100" to +.500" but some run as much as +2.00". With literally tens of thousands of possible combinations the trick is to know what heights to use with what setups and applications. BTW switching ball joints heights around will alter the range of alignment specs you have as well as the available travel of the ball joints due to changes in UCA angle (and ride height as well) etc. so if you`re not buying a proven package make sure to check all of the variable very carefully. Mark SC&C

[Twentyover]

I was under the impression that the tall ball joint just moved the taper section down .500" - i.e. extended the stud .500" n between the ball and the taper section. Are you saying that this is incorrect?

Tall ball joints increase the distance from the center of the ball to the engagement point of the taper in the upright.

I THINK we're saying the same thing, but, gosh, yknow, language is such a poor tool for communicating ideas