Lower balljoints: CV boot now touching lower arm?

[Growlerbearnz]

This is a thing that happens sometimes. You replace the lower ball joints and now the suspension arm touches the CV joint boot, like so:




Well Pete over on the L300 Offroad FB group has figured out why this happens: some aftermarket lower balljoints are taller than genuine items.



That taper is about 8mm higher than the original, it raises the lower arm relative to the swivel hub, resulting in the CV joint now touching the lower arm.

Genuine Mitsubishi balljoints are part numbers MB527351 LH and MB527352 RH. Allegedly these are manufactured by Sankei-555, their part numbers are SB-7322R and SB-7322L

Generic part numbers are usually BJ277, BJ278.

 

[Sputnik]

This is a thing that happens sometimes. You replace the lower ball joints and now the suspension arm touches the CV joint boot, like so:


View attachment 8353

Well Pete over on the L300 Offroad FB group has figured out why this happens: some aftermarket lower balljoints are taller than genuine items.

View attachment 8354

That taper is about 8mm higher than the original, it raises the lower arm relative to the swivel hub, resulting in the CV joint now touching the lower arm.

Genuine Mitsubishi balljoints are part numbers MB527351 LH and MB527352 RH. Allegedly these are manufactured by Sankei-555, their part numbers are SB-7322R and SB-7322L

Generic part numbers are usually BJ277, BJ278.

Good to know those part numbers.

For North American readers, I think Sankei 555 is what Coombs County Auto is selling for L300 replacement parts:

L300 Delica right front lower ball joint - Genuine part

L300 Delica right front lower ball joint - Genuine part

www.ccautos.ca

L300 Delica left front lower ball joint - Genuine part

L300 Delica left front lower ball joint - Genuine part

www.ccautos.ca

Though they can probably be found for less from other sources.

 

[VR4]

The axle in the first picture is fitted with an additional boot protector. Not all models have these, and that lets aftermarket manufacturers to alter the balljoint dimensions. If I remember correctly these extra pieces were a part of a "cold weather package" and if left out lead to cv boot damage when driving in deep snow. Very often left out when replacing boots by ignorant mechanics, they portrait nicely the Japanese attention to detail. As if the designers actually adressed a problem found out in product testing rather than thinking about the extra cost, as 99% of customers probably never bury their axles in snow. I guess they help in mud too?

 

[ccmickelson]

Ran into this problem after installing some aftermarket ball joints from Taiwan. The edge of the outer boot on the new axles I just installed were rubbing on the lower control arm when in 4WD. Ordered a new pair of ball joints from a seller in Latvia off eBay. They were pictured stamped with 555 so I figured they were manufactured by Sankei. They arrived today and installed them this evening. Definitely a better fit and no more rubbing. These are under the Blue Print brand and ran about $120 with shipping. They arrived about 4 days after shipping confirmation.

Left one:

BLUE PRINT Ball Joint Front Left Lower For MITSUBISHI L 300 III 86-06 MB527351 | eBay

OEM Numbers: MB527351. MITSUBISHI MB527351. Ball Joint Front Right Lower For MITSUBISHI L 300 III MB527352. Fitting Position: Front Axle Left,Lower. MITSUBISHI L 300 III Box (P0_V, P1_V, P_2V) 2.5 D (P05V. ).

www.ebay.com

Right one:

BLUE PRINT Ball Joint Front Right Lower For MITSUBISHI L 300 III 86-06 MB527352 | eBay

OEM Numbers: MB527352. MITSUBISHI MB527352. Fitting Position: Front Axle Right,Lower. MITSUBISHI L 300 III Box (P0_V, P1_V, P_2V) 2.5 D (P05V. MITSUBISHI L 300 III Box (P0_V, P1_V, P_2V) 2.5 TD 02/1987 -. ).

www.ebay.com

I think the only difference between the two is which side the grease fitting is installed.



You can see the difference in height between the Sankei and the previous one I has sourced from Taiwan.



Now I've got maybe 3/4" of space between the control arm and the axle boot.

 

[Sputnik]

Ran into this problem after installing some aftermarket ball joints from Taiwan. The edge of the outer boot on the new axles I just installed were rubbing on the lower control arm when in 4WD. Ordered a new pair of ball joints from a seller in Latvia off eBay. They were pictured stamped with 555 so I figured they were manufactured by Sankei. They arrived today and installed them this evening. Definitely a better fit and no more rubbing. These are under the Blue Print brand and ran about $120 with shipping. They arrived about 4 days after shipping confirmation.

Left one:

BLUE PRINT Ball Joint Front Left Lower For MITSUBISHI L 300 III 86-06 MB527351 | eBay

OEM Numbers: MB527351. MITSUBISHI MB527351. Ball Joint Front Right Lower For MITSUBISHI L 300 III MB527352. Fitting Position: Front Axle Left,Lower. MITSUBISHI L 300 III Box (P0_V, P1_V, P_2V) 2.5 D (P05V. ).

www.ebay.com

Right one:

BLUE PRINT Ball Joint Front Right Lower For MITSUBISHI L 300 III 86-06 MB527352 | eBay

OEM Numbers: MB527352. MITSUBISHI MB527352. Fitting Position: Front Axle Right,Lower. MITSUBISHI L 300 III Box (P0_V, P1_V, P_2V) 2.5 D (P05V. MITSUBISHI L 300 III Box (P0_V, P1_V, P_2V) 2.5 TD 02/1987 -. ).

www.ebay.com

View attachment 9050

I think the only difference between the two is which side the grease fitting is installed.
View attachment 9047
View attachment 9046

You can see the difference in height between the Sankei and the previous one I has sourced from Taiwan.

View attachment 9048

Now I've got maybe 3/4" of space between the control arm and the axle boot.
View attachment 9049

Do you have any other info on those Blueprint ball joints? Like original Sankei 555 part # maybe?

I ordered a pair of lowers from Rising Sun, but the grease nipple doesn't quite line up, making impossible to actually grease, because the head of the grease gun can't fit around the nipple.


and the contact with the control arm is also happening (though the ones I'm replacing , presumably installed in Japan, also contact slightly and have been functioning without any damage while I've had the van.