[BillsCamino]

Anyone running the Howe tall ball joints better take a very close inspection on yours.
I had a lower joint fail tonight on the pass side of my '66 wagon!
Very lucky that I was only backing out of my driveway and the joint broke as I crossed the approach and was into the street. Very fortunate that the only damage was done with the tire/wheel slightly benting inner fender (original !!) which I think can be straightened.
Man, I've been all over with this car too... interstate, cruises, trailered to two different out of state shows, and have had the grandkids in it.

And luckily my bro-in-law Dana was around to do the quick repairs and get the wagon out of the middle of the street.

BTW...this joint has less than 500 miles on it. And was installed and TQ'd properly.
After a quick run to the local auto parts store it's been replaced with a Moog as will the other side ASAP.

[Brettd85]

Wow, good thing it happened in your driveway. That could have ended up alot worse. I wonder if you got a lemon or if this is going to be a common problem. Everyone speaks so highly of these ball joints and they are not cheap. I am running moog. Looks like it sheared right were the threads begin.

[scotty]

That is not good!

Has anyone ever heard of this happening?

I would sure hate to have mine break at speeds in the 180 mph+ range. That would be instant death!

I dont see how the heck that could happen unless the nut bottomed on the threads and put additional pressure on it.

Might be time for the ATS spindles.

You bought them through SC&C?? I wonder what they might find out about this?

[Derek69SS]

Wow Bill, that's the first I've ever heard of that happening.

Are you sure it was seated properly with the spindle taper? Did the spindle show any wear suggesting it may have been loose?

[pist0lpete]

Wow that is the first I have heard of that. From the looks of the pictures that broke in tensile which seems a bit odd. One thing is for sure though I don't doubt for a second that if you talk to Mark and figure out the issue he will make it right.

[Brettd85]

Originally Posted by pist0lpete

Wow that is the first I have heard of that. From the looks of the pictures that broke in tensile which seems a bit odd. One thing is for sure though I don't doubt for a second that if you talk to Mark and figure out the issue he will make it right.

After reviewing the pics, that does look like a tensile failure. Scary...

[tunedbytad]

wow

[BillsCamino]

Originally Posted by Derek69SS

Are you sure it was seated properly with the spindle taper? Did the spindle show any wear suggesting it may have been loose?

No Derek, the spindle taper is tight...the spindles are brand new!
And I can see a 100% contact pattern mark on the ball joint taper.
This joint broke right at the thread relief.

[PCB67SS]

Bill I'm sure glad your alright...Someone was looking down on you when that happened. I guess it goes to show even when you buy the supposed best failures can and do happen which is unfortunate. I can only imagine this will put a lot of cars on jackstands this weekend as there is no way I would drive a car and take the chance of a failure. Again thank goodness your alright and your beautiful car did not receive any worse damage. As far as failures goes it cant get much worse than this.

[Rich-L79]

Bill, I think it's imparitive that you get that piece back into the hands of the folks at Howe so they can try to determine what happened, how many others may or may not be affected and so they can address any manufacturing problems which may be the source as well as make it right by you. Please, for the sake of everyone else out there with these ball joints, send it (and the other one that didn't break) off to Howe.

Sorry about the car, but glad no one was hurt.

[BillsCamino]

Originally Posted by Rich-L79

Bill, I think it's imparitive that you get that piece back into the hands of the folks at Howe so they can try to determine what happened, how many others may or may not be affected and so they can address any manufacturing problems which may be the source as well as make it right by you. Please, for the sake of everyone else out there with these ball joints, send it (and the other one that didn't break) off to Howe.

Sorry about the car, but glad no one was hurt.

Exactly my plans Rich! I agree 100% and the primary reason for my post here shortly after it happened last night.
I've got to get the other lower ball joint out today after work and will be shipping both joints back.
This is simply unacceptable!!

[b25]

Scary indeed. I too would like to know more about this and the comment about the catastrophic SPC arm failure as I've got my setup ready to install upon frame/undercarriage completion.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Derek69SS

Are you sure it was seated properly with the spindle taper? Did the spindle show any wear suggesting it may have been loose?

Judging by the markings on the ball joint stud, the thing was loose in the taper, and wobbling around. Loose either from having an improperly-tapered spindle hole, an improperly tapered ball joint stud, or just plain loose 'cause the nut wasn't tight enough.

As it wobbled around, it put excess strain on the nut/threads, and eventually popped the nut off (by shearing the stud.)

I'd look VERY CAREFULLY at that "new" spindle.

[BillsCamino]

If that is the case (and I have serious doubts) then the only explaination is the taper on the Howe joint is not correct!
We thought originally there may have been an issue with the new spindle last night and after examining the spindle bore we test fit the Moog replacement joint in the spindle before installing it into the LCA. Taper contact is fine. There is no evidence of a loose ball joint nut scuffing the top of the spindle bore either. We looked.
There is an undercut for the thread relief on the Howe joint. The diameter of the stud at this point is significantly reduced.
This is where the stud seperated.

And I might add...I'm not a big fan of Moog either but that's all that was availble at 8pm last night.

[Derek69SS]

Originally Posted by Schurkey

Judging by the markings on the ball joint stud, the thing was loose in the taper, and wobbling around. Loose either from having an improperly-tapered spindle hole, an improperly tapered ball joint stud, or just plain loose 'cause the nut wasn't tight enough.

As it wobbled around, it put excess strain on the nut/threads, and eventually popped the nut off (by shearing the stud.)

I'd look VERY CAREFULLY at that "new" spindle.

This is exactly what I was thinking too... the copper-colored coating on the stud is worn off at the base, but still shiny at the top, suggesting IMHO the taper is wrong on one or the other.