PDM Control Arms Ball Joint ? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

modulation · 07-29-2022, 12:52 PM

Along time ago PDM sold complete lower control arms for the S13.
I had them on for 8 years, and the ball joint went bad.
I pressed out the ball joint, and bought a new S13 one..

Guess what? It doesn't fit. The PDM racing arms use some different (not S13 or S14 or 200sx or sentra that I can find) ball joint.

Anyone have any idea what ball joint they use? If not I guess I'll buy used OEM ones so I don't have to go through this again...

AKADriver · 07-29-2022, 02:35 PM

I remember them selling conversion arms that were just reconditioned S13 OEM arms with an S14 ball joint (to use with S14 knuckles, that have a larger taper). Are these tubular style or OEM style arms? Are you using S13 knuckles?

Can you measure the ID of the hole in the LCA?

modulation · 07-29-2022, 03:11 PM

They aren't OEM that is for sure I found someone else complaining they wanted to put S14 ball joints in the PDM control arms to upgrade to S14 knuckles and the S14 ball joints wouldn't fit either..
It's on another forum you can google "Personally I wouldn't waste my time with them again." to find the thread. I'm using S13 knuckles. They are "OEM" style not tubular.

As far as measurement goes I only have a 2" dial gauge, and only C type micrometers. No accurate way to measure it down to the hundredths.

I guess I'll just bite the bullet and buy some used OEM S13 FCA from ebay. It's easy to tell the difference by the bushings. Looking there is another PDM like pair for sale now without the ball joints so someone else probably ran into my same problem..

LoSt180 · 08-01-2022, 12:15 PM

If the PDM arms were just OEM style replacements, why don't you just order some new MOOG arms from a place like rock auto? $30 for the whole arm with new bushings, which oddly is how much they have just the ball joint listed for also. Heck, they even have economy grade parts for half the price.

tuzzio · 08-02-2022, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoSt180

, why don't you just order some new MOOG arms from a place like rock auto? $30 for the whole arm with new bushings

This. I did this a year ago. Bought brand new control arms, and S14 ball joints to run with my S14 knuckles. Was a no brainer.

modulation · 08-02-2022, 03:43 PM

Yeah that's what I ended up doing but from NAPA. $40 per arm next day.

07-29-2022, 12:52 PM	#1
modulation Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 196 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	PDM Control Arms Ball Joint ? Along time ago PDM sold complete lower control arms for the S13. I had them on for 8 years, and the ball joint went bad. I pressed out the ball joint, and bought a new S13 one.. Guess what? It doesn't fit. The PDM racing arms use some different (not S13 or S14 or 200sx or sentra that I can find) ball joint. Anyone have any idea what ball joint they use? If not I guess I'll buy used OEM ones so I don't have to go through this again...

07-29-2022, 02:35 PM	#2
AKADriver Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Age: 43 Posts: 3,517 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I remember them selling conversion arms that were just reconditioned S13 OEM arms with an S14 ball joint (to use with S14 knuckles, that have a larger taper). Are these tubular style or OEM style arms? Are you using S13 knuckles? Can you measure the ID of the hole in the LCA?

07-29-2022, 03:11 PM	#3
modulation Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 196 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	They aren't OEM that is for sure I found someone else complaining they wanted to put S14 ball joints in the PDM control arms to upgrade to S14 knuckles and the S14 ball joints wouldn't fit either.. It's on another forum you can google "Personally I wouldn't waste my time with them again." to find the thread. I'm using S13 knuckles. They are "OEM" style not tubular. As far as measurement goes I only have a 2" dial gauge, and only C type micrometers. No accurate way to measure it down to the hundredths. I guess I'll just bite the bullet and buy some used OEM S13 FCA from ebay. It's easy to tell the difference by the bushings. Looking there is another PDM like pair for sale now without the ball joints so someone else probably ran into my same problem..

08-01-2022, 12:15 PM	#4
LoSt180 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2013 Location: MD Posts: 1,049 Trader Rating: (18) Feedback Score: 18 reviews	If the PDM arms were just OEM style replacements, why don't you just order some new MOOG arms from a place like rock auto? $30 for the whole arm with new bushings, which oddly is how much they have just the ball joint listed for also. Heck, they even have economy grade parts for half the price.

08-02-2022, 03:43 PM	#6
modulation Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 196 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah that's what I ended up doing but from NAPA. $40 per arm next day.