Striker top arm problem

[davspeed]

I have almost finished my Striker (as if that's ever done)and noticed the top arm on one side is catching on the inside lip of my wheel the other side is ok.
Having had a closer look it seems the gap between the top ball joint and the upright is different on each side, I didn't notice it before as had kept it on the fourteen inch rims it came on while working on it and getting it tested. I only spotted it after fitting my brand new thirteen inch rims and it happens at about half lock. it looks like the previous owner either fitted the ball joint wrong or fitted a wrong ball joint, have ordered two new ones as a precaution. Has anyone seen this before?

The good side
Top arm (1) by david.vangils, on Flickr

My poor scarred brand new pro race1.2 Top arm (2) by david.vangils, on Flickr

[peter030371]

Not seen that issue with 13" wheels before. Could you not re-profile the end of the rocker arm to give more clearance?

[davspeed]

I had thought of cutting and welding it until I saw the difference in the gaps below.

[peter030371]

Sorry I can't help any more but my Striker is very different (uses the Sierra hub...guessing yours is Escort?) as the picture shows.



Only other option is to use a thin wheel spacer, I might even have a couple of 3mm ones sitting about which you can have if you want to go down that route? Just let me know if you want to try them and I will stick them in the post (assuming I can find them!).

[davspeed]

Thanks for the offer, it already has one thin spacer each side to stop the tyre rubbing on the mudguard upright. I will be moving them during the winter, making a list that is growing daily

[peter030371]

Thanks for the offer, it already has one thin spacer each side to stop the tyre rubbing on the mudguard upright. I will be moving them during the winter, making a list that is growing daily

I had to cut and re-weld my mudguard uprights. That picture is the before and they had been on the road like that (SVA pass in 2004)

[PaulW7]

Are those the viva uprights with 2 bolts, Striker mk3, as my top rocker arms on a 1999 chassis with Escort uprights is a single bolt through the middle as in Peters photo.

[davspeed]

Are those the viva uprights with 2 bolts, Striker mk3, as my top rocker arms on a 1999 chassis with Escort uprights is a single bolt through the middle as in Peters photo.

You've got me there, I know the hubs are escort as fitted new brakes and assumed they are escort uprights with the metro ball joint. Taking it off later so hope to find out. It was registered in 1997 so assume whatever is on is pre that date.

[davspeed]

Problem solved, on the offending side the powder coating was still in the taper on the upright and the ball jont nut was not fully tight. Strange that there was no movement in it, must have been like that for 21 years. Thanks for the help it does look like I have viva or chevette top ball joints.

[peter030371]

Problem solved, on the offending side the powder coating was still in the taper on the upright and the ball jont nut was not fully tight. Strange that there was no movement in it, must have been like that for 21 years. Thanks for the help it does look like I have viva or chevette top ball joints.

I do like a happy ending