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Ball Joint - Vangon Upper Adj.
GO WESTY. Pair. HEAVY DUTY / ADJUSTABLE. Introducing the GoWesty all-steel, long-pin, heavy-duty upper ball joint (UBJ) for all Vanagon. These will be the last upper ball joints you will ever have to purchase... and watch your front tires last longer!
Features:
• All-steel construction, greaseable, and fully adjustable for zero-play
• Longer pin design for superior suspension geometry
• DuroGreen HNBR boot for ultimate durability
• No ball joint spacers are required for regular height and lifted vans
• Installs on top of the upper control arm for lowered vans
• Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original purchaser
Fits: 1980-91 Vanagon models (2WD & 4WD)
Fitment Note: These upper ball joints are designed to correct the geometry of the wheel in conjunction with all zero lift, lowering, and lifting spring kits on the market. If you are running standard height (zero lift) or lifting springs, install normally as you would any upper ball joint. If you are running lowering springs, install the UBJ from the top of the A-arm. See the image slider for an illustration of this.
Naturally, we did not want to reinvent the wheel, so we took a very close look at what was already on the market. Other long-pin UBJs on the market duplicate several problematic features of the original, short-pin OE design. Plastic inner parts were retained and they are not greaseable or adjustable. But the real deal breaker was the angled design of the bolting flange to accommodate the less-than-ideal angle VW was aware of. What's puzzling is: Why was this aspect of the OE ball joint duplicated? The whole point of the longer design is to correct the UCA angle making an angled bolt flange counterproductive in terms of angular capability. Needless to say, we decided to start from scratch and do it right.
Our GoWesty UBJs are not only forever/all metal/greaseable—the design also tackles two common problems:
Alignment challenges: The upper control arm (UCA or “A-arm”) on standard-height and lifted Vanagons typically sits at a very steep angle, sloping downward toward the wheel. Lowered Vanagons have the opposite problem: the UCA angles upward. The ideal UCA angle for alignment is to be as level as possible at rest. Like the UBJ spacers we pioneered over two decades ago, when installed in the standard position under the UCA, it corrects the UCA downward angled UCA on standard-height or lifted vans. What is even niftier is that, when installed from the top of the UCA, it corrects the opposite problem on lowered Vanagons. Leveling the UCA as much as possible mitigates the alignment challenges an out-of-level UCA angle creates.
Suspension geometry/tire wear: The longer UCA pin increases the pivot points between the UBJ and LBJ, which decreases the (camber) angle changes at the wheel. The result is better handling and reduced tire wear.
Features:
• All-steel construction, greaseable, and fully adjustable for zero-play
• Longer pin design for superior suspension geometry
• DuroGreen HNBR boot for ultimate durability
• No ball joint spacers are required for regular height and lifted vans
• Installs on top of the upper control arm for lowered vans
• Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original purchaser
Fits: 1980-91 Vanagon models (2WD & 4WD)
Fitment Note: These upper ball joints are designed to correct the geometry of the wheel in conjunction with all zero lift, lowering, and lifting spring kits on the market. If you are running standard height (zero lift) or lifting springs, install normally as you would any upper ball joint. If you are running lowering springs, install the UBJ from the top of the A-arm. See the image slider for an illustration of this.
Naturally, we did not want to reinvent the wheel, so we took a very close look at what was already on the market. Other long-pin UBJs on the market duplicate several problematic features of the original, short-pin OE design. Plastic inner parts were retained and they are not greaseable or adjustable. But the real deal breaker was the angled design of the bolting flange to accommodate the less-than-ideal angle VW was aware of. What's puzzling is: Why was this aspect of the OE ball joint duplicated? The whole point of the longer design is to correct the UCA angle making an angled bolt flange counterproductive in terms of angular capability. Needless to say, we decided to start from scratch and do it right.
Our GoWesty UBJs are not only forever/all metal/greaseable—the design also tackles two common problems:
Alignment challenges: The upper control arm (UCA or “A-arm”) on standard-height and lifted Vanagons typically sits at a very steep angle, sloping downward toward the wheel. Lowered Vanagons have the opposite problem: the UCA angles upward. The ideal UCA angle for alignment is to be as level as possible at rest. Like the UBJ spacers we pioneered over two decades ago, when installed in the standard position under the UCA, it corrects the UCA downward angled UCA on standard-height or lifted vans. What is even niftier is that, when installed from the top of the UCA, it corrects the opposite problem on lowered Vanagons. Leveling the UCA as much as possible mitigates the alignment challenges an out-of-level UCA angle creates.
Suspension geometry/tire wear: The longer UCA pin increases the pivot points between the UBJ and LBJ, which decreases the (camber) angle changes at the wheel. The result is better handling and reduced tire wear.
Part #: GVW-251-407-361-PAIR
CAD 229.00