Firm Feel UCA's Small Ball Joint pics and review.

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seabee

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Hi All

Just wanted to post some pics and thoughts about the Firm Feel UCA's in case anyone else was looking for them on FABO. I Ordered them on a Friday and received them the next Thursday. I ordered by phone and got an email confirmation and tracking number within a few hours. They came packed very well, almost excessively. They were the "Small Ball Joint UCA's" with the bushings and BJ installed. The cost was $400 and $12 shipping from Washington State to San Diego.

They are very heavy and sturdy feeling compared to my standard UCA's. The welds look good and the bushings look like the ones I got from my PST poly kit. The ball joint looks like a better quality than standard replacement parts. The big bump stops are a very nice poly material and extra thick.

They installed flawlessly. There's an instruction in the box that talks about possibly shaving the UCA bushing area, but for mine they cleared. I test drove them and they feel extra firm and have eliminated some of the lean I was getting with my original UCA's with poly kits.

DO NOT BUY the WSD Ebay UCA's and try to install ball joints and bushings in them. I learned the hard way. That route cost me more $$, time, and almost my life.

If you want to keep your Drum Brake setup and need a small Bjoint UCA I recommend these.

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Nice writeup on these.
I just had them rebuild my steering box, and am looking forward to experiencing the difference in handling.
 
I understand the need for a different bump stop.
Are they available without the ball joints and bushings ?
Never mind. I found it. Available but no exactly for sale.
I've got over 150.00 invested in Moogs offset upper bushings and ball joints.
 
And unlike some others out there, these have a nice welded gusset behind the ball joint.
 
<I test drove them and they feel extra firm and have eliminated a lot of the lean I was getting with my original UCA's with poly kits.>

Lean... you mean when you turn the wheel left and right and the car seems to just kinda wallow? My 68 fish is that way. Guess it has been too long since I drove an old Mopar and had forgotten how loose cars used to feel. The first thing I did to the hotrod is put new autoparts store front shocks on - they were not as "stiff" as the ones that came off and did nothing for the wallowing. No sawy bars front or rear.

I would like to improve the handling as I get into this body restore and it looks like UCAs may be on the list.
 
<I test drove them and they feel extra firm and have eliminated a lot of the lean I was getting with my original UCA's with poly kits.>

Lean... you mean when you turn the wheel left and right and the car seems to just kinda wallow?

Yeah, when quickly turning the front would dip down on the opposite wheel a little too much. It still does, just much "firmer" and tighter. I imagine after I get some better shocks (Napa Cheapos on right now) it will get even better.
 
Airwoofer

I have stock UCA and my car has no lean in turns , or wallow , does not feel loose , I have gas shocks , sway bar , 1.0" torsion bar . Poly bushings all around except LCA bushings , those are MOOG .
If it wallows would look at shocks , lean get sway bar maybe heavier torsion bars , loose/play in steering , check all bushings , the rubber wears and deforms over the years , 1/8" of worn bushings all around adds up to loose feeling in steering , my steering felt loosey goosey , after changing all the bushings I can wait on the Firm Feel stage II steering box , eels 100% better with new bushings .

Good luck
Seabee , great write up ! Those UCA are on the buy list when mine need replacing
 
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They are very heavy and sturdy feeling compared to my standard UCA's. The welds look good and the bushings look like the ones I got from my PST poly kit. The ball joint looks like a better quality than standard replacement parts. The big bump stops are a very nice poly material and extra thick....

That's because it is a K7022 Moog upper ball joint. The ones you get in the PST and Just Suspension kits are not Moog.

The bushing seem to be the same for the cheap kits. But the idler, pitman, and upper and lower ball joints...Go Moog.
 
That's because it is a K7022 Moog upper ball joint. The ones you get in the PST and Just Suspension kits are not Moog.

The bushing seem to be the same for the cheap kits. But the idler, pitman, and upper and lower ball joints...Go Moog.

Are you saying the PST and Just Suspension ball joints are NOT good replacements , Moog are the ones to get ? What's wrong with the PST A=ant J S ball joints ?
Adding this , don't know if it's BS or not
http://www.cbodydrydock.com/content.php?article.20
 
Are you saying the PST and Just Suspension ball joints are NOT good replacements , Moog are the ones to get ? What's wrong with the PST A=ant J S ball joints ?
Adding this , don't know if it's BS or not
http://www.cbodydrydock.com/content.php?article.20

Sorry to hijack, but Jerry, I have seen that link here before on this forum and have set in my mind to go with JS for my ball joints unless someone can call bs on this???
 
Sorry to hijack, but Jerry, I have seen that link here before on this forum and have set in my mind to go with JS for my ball joints unless someone can call bs on this???

I saw that link and was thinking the same , I want to know if I should buy them or not . There is so much crap comming out of India and China , you just never know
 
I saw that link and was thinking the same , I want to know if I should buy them or not . There is so much crap comming out of India and China , you just never know

The 1st time I saw that link was from slantsixdan...very knowledgable guy...but you dont know if its marketing bs or not
 
Firm Feel makes nice stuff. Good guys too. I am going to have them make custom swaybars form my 65 dart.
 
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