Ball joint suppliers and measuring taper

[CRS51]

Hello all, could anyone explain how to measure a steering joint taper ?
Also would anyone know of a supplier of any of the parts in the pictures ?
I’m working on the steering joints on my Leyland Martian recovery truck but as it’s from 1958 the bits are a bit scarce. I’m told they are the same as some models of Leyland buses.
Any help appreciated,
Cheers Chris

 

[truckdoctor]

From memory they would be 7 degrease but best to get in touch with this company that have been very helpful for me in the past http://www.amsteer.co.uk/

 

[8ob]

There are parts manuals like Q&H that list all these joints and have taper angle/diameter listings. I used the same book to find a track rod end that would fit my telehandler.

Bob

 

[merryman]

I used to fit the track rods to Leyland bus axles and the odd heavy truck. The longer ball joint does look like the ones used on Atlantean, Leopard and Tiger track rods. Some of the fittings are the same, can't remember now, but some axles had the track rod in a separate threaded unit, some used that type, with the rod in the same threads as the adjuster. All used the brass or bronze thrust washers. What is the problem? The balls don't look oval, and can often be put in so an unworn part is contacting the thrust washers anyway.

 

[Stueeee]

It's unusual for automotive tapers not to be 1.5" per foot, which comes out at just over 7° included angle as truckdoctor said.

If you want to calculate what you have, measure the small and large taper diameters, subtract the small figure from the large, divide it by the measured length of your taper. Put the resultant figure into your calculator and press the inverse and then the SIN function, the answer will be the included taper angle.

Before any mathematicians reading this point out the lack of a true right angle in this sine calculation, due to the shallow taper, the resulting error is a few minutes of arc, so, can be discounted.

Tapers are easy to cut/recut if you can't get exactly the right ball joint off the shelf. Either with a 1.5" per foot taper reamer, or my preferred method, which is to make a taper D bit from a hardened and tempered chunk of Silver Steel; obviously you can make these in any taper angle you fancy.

 

[CRS51]

I used to fit the track rods to Leyland bus axles and the odd heavy truck. The longer ball joint does look like the ones used on Atlantean, Leopard and Tiger track rods. Some of the fittings are the same, can't remember now, but some axles had the track rod in a separate threaded unit, some used that type, with the rod in the same threads as the adjuster. All used the brass or bronze thrust washers. What is the problem? The balls don't look oval, and can often be put in so an unworn part is contacting the thrust washers anyway.

Thanks, it’s mainly the threaded part of the call joint that has seen some action in the past. Was hoping there maybe a modern equivalent as these are the best of the lot.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, When I was on the buses they gave good service because they were adjustable and we carried the cups in the stores, but because our vehicles had automatic chassis lubrication set ups on them we very rarely had any serious trouble with them.

Colin

 

[merryman]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if those were used up to the end of Leyland Bus, in the 1990s. On track rod assembly we only made the two types, and the Atlantean had come out in the 1950s. The National and Titan had modern "throw away" ball joints, and we took over Damlier Fleetline production at Leyland that, I seem to recall, used complex self adjusting track rod ends, which we also made.

 

[CRS51]

Thanks for all the help and advice, Ive got some arriving in the next few days, old stock but new so will see how we go
Cheers chris.

 

[CRS51]

Further inspection revealed bent and cracked ball pins so now on the hunt for a complete new set

 

[merryman]

I would guess one front wheel has been "kerbed" at speed, probably buckled a wheel which will have been replaced, but has overloaded the balls. As I wrote above, they look a lot like Atlantean/Tiger items and there should be a few Tigers about, as it was Leyland's last single decker/coach chassis.

 

[CRS51]

I would guess one front wheel has been "kerbed" at speed, probably buckled a wheel which will have been replaced, but has overloaded the balls. As I wrote above, they look a lot like Atlantean/Tiger items and there should be a few Tigers about, as it was Leyland's last single decker/coach chassis.

Thanks Merryman