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Author Topic: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?  (Read 1435 times)

Offline breeze

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Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« on: January 12, 2022, 08:53:12 pm »
I am replacing my balljoints and wanted to know whether there is any adjustability in the lower arm.

Am I right in thinking that there is no adjustability? Aware that some cars have elongated holes which do provide some adjustment, just not sure whether that is the case for the MK5 GTI. Looking at pictures it doesn’t seem to me that there is much movement.

No adjustability would be easier, so that would be my preference!

Offline Clarkj93

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2022, 09:22:56 pm »
You are correct the camber is not adjustable via the standard lower arm and ball joints.

Offline LC5F

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2022, 09:51:47 pm »
TT arms have some adjustment

Offline Sebas_theFish

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2022, 04:31:53 am »
Superpro and Whiteline ball joints are camber adjustable, stock ones aren't. I've got the Superpro ones.

Offline breeze

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2022, 02:26:58 pm »
Perfect. Thanks for the input.

Will get cracking!

Offline breeze

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2022, 09:58:52 pm »
Top nut on the ball joint started spinning right at the top. Argh!

I can’t use the jack under the joint trick because the nut is already so far out it is touching the hub. It looks like the balljoint needs to be dropped to get the nut off the final few threads.

Any advice?!

Offline rich83

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2022, 10:38:48 pm »
Top nut on the ball joint started spinning right at the top. Argh!

I can’t use the jack under the joint trick because the nut is already so far out it is touching the hub. It looks like the balljoint needs to be dropped to get the nut off the final few threads.

Any advice?!

Try the jack trick. Wind the nut back down and clean the top threads and try again. I got mine off like this. You could try some grips on the thread.

Offline Sebas_theFish

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2022, 11:13:01 pm »
Just cut it off if you're not reusing them.

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Offline pudding

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2022, 09:29:31 am »
Something to be mindful of is subframe alignment, which is pretty shoddy from the factory.  Not every car will see a huge gain in camber from these BJs. 

If I was to do it again, I would skip the SuperPro BJs and Consoles and just use Ground Control top plates, with Audi A2 bushes pressed into the GTI consoles.


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Offline breeze

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2022, 09:44:05 am »
Top nut on the ball joint started spinning right at the top. Argh!

I can’t use the jack under the joint trick because the nut is already so far out it is touching the hub. It looks like the balljoint needs to be dropped to get the nut off the final few threads.

Any advice?!

Try the jack trick. Wind the nut back down and clean the top threads and try again. I got mine off like this. You could try some grips on the thread.

I tried grips yesterday, albeit on the bottom. I’ve ordered narrow nose grips to try on the top part of the shaft. Yes cleaning threads is an option.

Offline breeze

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Re: Are balljoints adjustable for camber?
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2022, 09:45:20 am »
Something to be mindful of is subframe alignment, which is pretty shoddy from the factory.  Not every car will see a huge gain in camber from these BJs. 

If I was to do it again, I would skip the SuperPro BJs and Consoles and just use Ground Control top plates, with Audi A2 bushes pressed into the GTI consoles.

Honestly, I am not trying to get more camber for a road car, was really just worried about replacing and making it worse. At the moment the car steers straight and wears the tyres evenly.

EDIT: Got it off eventually. Removed caliper and used a hacksaw. Painful!
« Last Edit: January 14, 2022, 07:24:14 pm by breeze »