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Contributor
Location: Bluevale, Ontario | I was browsing through Government Liquidation and came across AM General ball joints up for auction. They appear remarkably similar to FMC ball joints. AM General part number 5716606, manufactured by Krizman, part number 2601564. The website is govliquidation.com an auction site, the event # is 14309 and the lot # is 409. I don't know how to send a link to this site. If I could figure out how to bid on this stuff I would try to but, it's just over in Ohio. Frank |
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Contributor
Location: Bluevale, Ontario | Hello All,
Harry, I got your e-mail. In continuing to search I went on Google and searched Humvee ball joint. Only one listing came up and it appears to be the same joint. The price was $35.00 so I bought it, we'll see if it works. The hump on the body is bigger than our FMC ball joints but maybe it can be retrofiited in place. The replacement ball joints from MCR that I had bought were from Rare Parts in California and I've had several with a very short life span before they had clearance. Hopefully these will be better. Frank |
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Expert
 
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Frank, thank you for the update and the evaluation of the units from Rare Parts. To post a link to a website, if you highlight and then "copy" the link, you can then "paste" it into your post here on this site and then the link will be clickable. |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | I just did a search using Bing and multiple sites came up including this one. http://www.je-bearing.com/news/humvee-ball-joints/ |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Any further detail on this? Did the H1 ball joints match the FMC or will it require some modification. I saw they are carried on Rock Auto for a pretty reasonable price. |
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Contributor
Location: Bluevale, Ontario | So I received the Humvee lower ball joint. The stud and the bolt mounting pattern are identical. The difference is the top side of the housing, it protrudes more than the Cadillac joint. The only way it would fit is to modify the control arm to allow the protrusion to fit through or to make a spacer plate to take up that space. In looking for Humvee ball joints I noticed there are different styles (manufacturers) of these joints and some look to be fairly flat on the top side. There may be a joint that would actually bolt right in. I suppose this joint may be used on other military vehicles, it's interesting that the Humvee has a similar style to the FMC when we know that FMC produced military equipment. Does anyone know what FMC produced for the military? Are there places to buy parts for those vehicles? Is it possible there would be sources for brake drums/rotors or torsion bars or whatever from military sources? So many questions! Frank |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | I'm going to do a little guinea pig impersonation. I bought 2 each of the upper and 2 each of the lower Hummer H1 Ball Joints from Rockauto
2000 HUMMER H1 6.5L V8 DIESEL Turbocharged
ACDELCO 45D0089 (45D0089@A16) Ball Joint $ 64.79
ACDELCO 45D2222 (45D2222@A17) Ball Joint $ 51.79
We'll see what fits where...my uppers are shot for sure, can't really tell about the lowers..
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Extreme Veteran
Location: Scottsdale, Aridzona | If the Hummers don't fit . . .
The FMC Ball joint (TRW-S-25-BJ-4002-A-11) is actually the LOWER Ball Joint from a 1957-60 Full Size Cadillac Part #363 0971
Available from:
1.) Coopers Vintage Auto, PO Box 10906 Burbank CA 91510 Telephone (818) 972-2642
Owner- Bob Cooper. Tell him you need 4 each lower ball joints for a 60 Cadillac.
He was in the process of moving to a different location, but the phone # should be good.
In November of 2009 I bought four new greaseable FMC ball joints from Coopers for $84 ea. ($336 total + $9.52 shipping).
2.) http://www.rareparts.com/ – Part #10107
3.) http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts/60/cadillac/series_62/ba... Greasable?
4.) http://www.opgi.com/p/suspension/17607/232/CE01321.html
5.) http://www.caddydaddy.com/1957-1958-1959-1960-Cadillac-Lower-Ball-J...
6.) http://motors.shop.ebay.com/eBay-Motors-/6000/i.html?_nkw=1957+1958...
7.) http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=RPC10107...
If you do install new ball joints that are greasable, you may have to drill about a half inch hole in the LOWER A-arm to let the grease fitting stick down thru the arm. A longer Zirk fitting can also be used on the lower ball joint.
Other pricing - Receipts from RVS left in a FMC that got a new owner;
Ball joint – $145 each
Tie rod end w/zerk – $80 each
Brake wheel cylinder – $64 each
Receipts for these items purchased from RVS are dated in the mid 1990s.
All the above is from an E-mail I sent in 2013. All the "sources" may not still have the Parts or even be in Bidness. Press ON, Lou #120
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Lou,
It appears that only my upper on the drivers side has ever been replaced (it has a zerk fitting) but it is clearly shot, the grease boot is missing and you can see a wear groove in the bottom side of the ball; all the rest look to be undisturbed originals.
I figured this was worth a look as the up armor H1 weighs in about the same as an FMC and they beat the $hit outta those things so they should be plenty durable... if it doesn't look good I'll just return them (rockauto is good about that) and go the old caddy joint route..
Thanks |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | I started an album on converting to the H1 Hummer Ball-joint. I'm still working this project so once I get it complete I'll add all the details.
Pictures here: http://www.fmcowners.com/mbbs22/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?msg=upd...
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Completed this install on the drivers side, waiting two more ball joints to complete the passenger install.
http://www.fmcowners.com/mbbs22/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid...
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | Finished the passenger side yesterday. In summary I think this is worth doing for someone who plans to keep their coach long term; knowing that a future ball-joint replacement is a possibility.
With the much improved availability it would certainly be an advantage for a mid-trip/roadside failure where you would be able to get a replacement at any NAPA/local parts house immediately. The lower cost $50 each vs $80 each is a big plus as well. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | As always, excellent stuff Len and thanks for sharing. You sure do good work!
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Documenting what we do to our coaches is so important for those that will also needing to refresh there coaches in the future is so important and one of the major reasons that we have this website. The more this is done, the better.
Good work Len! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | I've done a lot of projects over the years (this is by far the largest) but have learned and saved myself much time and expense with forum research and participation. I'm hopeful my contributions will do the same for someone else. |
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Ball joints
