Lemford sealed front Balljoint

[mgcjag]

Hi All..just for info...not just Lemford but any front sealed joint....Read this befor buying...Steve https://forums.jag-lovers.com/t/lemford ... int/455271

[angelw]

Hello Steve,
And don't rely on asking the supplier if what they supply is correct, for you will most likely get the stock answer, "we have never had anyone complain about that before", and the part is correct.

Have the supplier provide the Spigot measurement and make your decision to purchase based on whether the part is fit for purpose.

Regards,

Bill

[Gfhug]

And don't rely on asking the supplier if what they supply is correct, for you will most likely get the stock answer, "we have never had anyone complain about that before", and the part is correct.

Regards,

Bill

Just had exactly that answer from a certain well known supplier, particularly galling when I had pointed them to the Jaglovers website with Bill’s comments

Steve or Bill, do either of you know where we can buy the correct part from Lemforder or one of their distributors? And do you have the Lemforder part number. (It may be in that link above but I’ve not read every post yet)

Geoff

[mgcjag]

Hi Geoff....you will see in that link that Bill machined rings and fitted and machined the balljoints....so this would point to correct joints not being available.....he did offer them for sale.....personally if the fit was loose I would cut a ring of shim stock....Steve ..ps one of my posts said to look for the red ring old stock....but no guarantee these are correct..

[mgcjag]

It's interesting Geoff....with all restorations going on I assume loose joints are being fitted as no-one else has posted about this

[Gfhug]

Thanks Steve. It’s the lack of interest from the supplier to admit the parts aren’t correct. Just the standard comments that it got the correct part number and no-one else has complained. Yes, lots of loose joints, there I was thinking joints got stiff with age

A quick look on Lemforder website gave this:

https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/aftermark ... untryID=GB

Not sure if it’s the right one or available

Geoff

[mgcjag]

Geoff....you are obviously the man in the right position to to let us know what part number fits..

[40GT]

I was in this position last month, with the suspension all over the garage floor I had to adapt the joint, I machined it down to a smaller diameter and fitted a ring that took up the slack, not something one should have to do.

[mgcjag]

You do realise that these sealed lower balljoints are not really an E type part.....originally I think first used on the XJ40 then they were used for E types but not at the factory......what you really need to beware of is that on some of the joints on offer(non Lemforder) the 4 bolt holes do not line up with the threads in the upright.....some have resorted to opening up the holes...not reccomend.....Steve

[Gfhug]

The irony is that though they are not original E Type parts they are offered by a certain parts supplier as being an ungraded item we can now use on the E.
Geoff

[mgcjag]

Hi Geoff....lots of things are sold as "upgrades".....are they actually better?.....as always beware aftermarket parts as they probably don't fit as per originals....Steve

[40GT]

Yes I realised these are not E parts, they were fine regarding bolt holes, in fact they were exactly right and there were no other problems but for the main seating diameter.

[angelw]

Steve Wrote :

Hi Geoff....lots of things are sold as "upgrades".....are they actually better?.....as always beware aftermarket parts as they probably don't fit as per originals....Steve

Hello Steve,
Quite a few parts are stated as being upgrades, and in fact, a more accurate description would be a down grade part. The Drawn Cup, Needle Roller Bearing for the gear box first motion shaft, SNGB offer two versions, a Cage Guided and a Full Complement type, with the Full Complement type being their so called Upgrade. This is clearly a Down Grade, as the Full Complement versions is prone to developing far more heat and the rollers to skew and promote wear of the journal they run on.

Sealed Lower Ball Joints were first introduced in the XJ40 model Jaguar, and I believe Lemforder was the brand used. Lemforder WAS my go to brand for the conversion of the E Type, but there are no longer any Lemforder, or other makes that have a good spigot fit the the bore of the E Type stub axle holder upright. I still modify the available sealed units to make them a good fit.

Regards,

Bill

[angelw]

Geoff Wrote:

Not sure if it’s the right one or available

No they are not. I saw an email from Lemforder to a member of JL, stating that the Red banded model is no longer made, and that the alternative, which has a smaller diameter spigot diameter is a suitable repair replacement. Not in my opinion are they suitable.

I now use the TRW part as the donor for my modification to make them a good fit. The attached picture shows the before (on the right) of the available Lemforder brand part (the part sold by SNGB), and the after my fix.



Regards,

Bill

[Gfhug]

Bill, thanks for your feedback. Looking in my parts bins I found a couple of unused CAC9937 sealed ball joints which are NLA and you now have to buy the JLM11860. I shall see if they fit or shall continue with the old ball joints and not “upgrade”.
Thanks to all for their contributions.

Geoff