Front ball joint question

[IanParkhouse]

So half way though doing my polybushes. I've took the front control arms off and I'm a bit confused by my ball joints.

The driver's side has a shim between the ball joint and the bottom to the strut. The passenger side does not. My other car doesn't have shims.


Should I have shims, I'm not keen on having only one, so should I find another or take the one that's there out?????

[LimeyMk1]

My old coupe had the same, I made one up for the otherside thinking that there should be one there but it turns out it's a common thing on our cars. In the end I think I left them both out, no idea why Toyota did it, possibly to balance things out as most of the time there will only be a driver so extra weight on the right.

[IanParkhouse]

Cheers Limey. Not something I've seen before.

[un1eash]

I had the same and left them out as they were falling apart anyway.

[IanParkhouse]

Mine's in great condition. I'll stick it back in if its OEM.

[The Silver Fox]

Dont know if this will help or confuse you even more.

The EPC for my Mk1a doesnt give a shim.

The Toyota Service Manual shows a shim on each side but doesnt mention them in the removal/fitting procedures.

Haynes manual (USA) as TSM.

It may be that original ball joints needed a shim but later ones had a thicker body and didnt need it.

I am just doing my early Mk1a - manufactured Nov 1984, and it didnt have shims.

Douglas

[IanParkhouse]

Cheers Douglas

I did compare both ball joints and they're the same thickness.