Track Control Arms modification?

[sierra3dr]

Hello all,has anyone looked into modifying the ball joint end of the TCA? The Sierras,Capris,Escorts etc are similar. I've opened up the ball joint housing. It's the plastic seating that the ball joint sits,is what actually wears out. I've been exploring on using a ball joint that's actually for a wishbone,for the Sierra. The problem is,that the casting on the ball joint end is cone shaped

[DT36]

I've got a mondeo wishbone on the floor in my garage that I can get you a pic of tomorrow if it's any good to you. 

[mpdevelopments.uk]

ive seen it done ,on other types of wishbone by machining out he ball joint pocket and fitting a spherical bearing and pin to suit. 

Edited August 8, 2021 by mpdevelopments.uk

[sierra3dr]

2 hours ago, dt36 said:

I've got a mondeo wishbone on the floor in my garage that I can get you a pic of tomorrow if it's any good to you. 

Thanks. What I have in mind is,is adapting one of these to the TCA

[Rally Pack 2000]

Are Sierra TCA's prohibitively expensive to replace? Non OEM TCA's for Escorts and Capris are relatively inexpensive that it wouldn't be worth trying to extend their life with new ball joints.

[DT36]

Just checked the Mondeo wishbone/ball joint and they are totally different. 

 

[sierra3dr]

2 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Are Sierra TCA's prohibitively expensive to replace? Non OEM TCA's for Escorts and Capris are relatively inexpensive that it wouldn't be worth trying to extend their life with new ball joints.

true,but are they still getting produced?  There could be a time when they start becoming rare.

[sierra3dr]

2 hours ago, dt36 said:

Just checked the Mondeo wishbone/ball joint and they are totally different. 

 

thanks. Similar to my MK1 Focus.

[katana]

2 hours ago, sierra3dr said:

true,but are they still getting produced?  There could be a time when they start becoming rare.

Well they are for Escorts and Capri's! Anglia's and Cortina's are pretty well covered in the aftermarket also. Sierra's aren't really floating many collectors boats so would imagine unlikely to be supported as well - no great shame IMO - ugly monstrosities!

[sierra3dr]

2 hours ago, katana said:

Sierra's aren't really floating many collectors boats so would imagine unlikely to be supported as well - no great shame IMO - ugly monstrosities!

😃😲😁

[Rally Pack 2000]

7 hours ago, sierra3dr said:

true,but are they still getting produced?  There could be a time when they start becoming rare.

Yes for Escorts and Capris in particular they are being produced like never before. Original or rose jointed you name it. So Im not sure for these models it will take off but you never know for those that require the utmost originality maybe repairing original Ford TCA's it may be something they would consider.

4 hours ago, katana said:

Well they are for Escorts and Capri's! Anglia's and Cortina's are pretty well covered in the aftermarket also. Sierra's aren't really floating many collectors boats so would imagine unlikely to be supported as well - no great shame IMO - ugly monstrosities!

We never have Sierras available here but they were easily recognized on Touring Car Racing circuits. It was that era I watched live motorsports the most and visited all the tracks I could. I like their unique look. Compared with the V8 racing we have now you can barely tell between the brands they all look the same.

I think like Escorts and other OSFs it takes time before the popularity madness sets in making them unaffordable to the average guy in the street. I think now is the time to buy into the Sierra market. The sporting versions have already been locked out for most already so its only a matter of time before the rest follow. Nows definitely the time for them I think.

[katana]

21 minutes ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

We never have Sierras available here but they were easily recognized on Touring Car Racing circuits. It was that era I watched live motorsports the most and visited all the tracks I could. I like their unique look. Compared with the V8 racing we have now you can barely tell between the brands they all look the same.

I think like Escorts and other OSFs it takes time before the popularity madness sets in making them unaffordable to the average guy in the street. I think now is the time to buy into the Sierra market. The sporting versions have already been locked out for most already so its only a matter of time before the rest follow. Nows definitely the time for them I think.

LOL - thankfully most of them got scrapped through the scrapage schemes but if you can find one then feel free to import down under. The vanilla flavour Sierra's were so run of the mill, family box, rep mobile's they just don't do it for collectors. But the sporting variants - different story, sorted engines, sorted transmissions, suspension and chassis so very desirable and nickable just like all 'classic' Fords and hence the value increase is going exponential! Just out of interest, what are values of VXR8's and Monaro's like down there ? as they are getting quite sort after over here. Yeah they ain't Ford, and Vauxhall's have a bit of a stigma attached but, by god, they are good!

[Rally Pack 2000]

20 hours ago, katana said:

LOL - thankfully most of them got scrapped through the scrapage schemes but if you can find one then feel free to import down under. The vanilla flavour Sierra's were so run of the mill, family box, rep mobile's they just don't do it for collectors. But the sporting variants - different story, sorted engines, sorted transmissions, suspension and chassis so very desirable and nickable just like all 'classic' Fords and hence the value increase is going exponential! Just out of interest, what are values of VXR8's and Monaro's like down there ? as they are getting quite sort after over here. Yeah they ain't Ford, and Vauxhall's have a bit of a stigma attached but, by god, they are good!

Last year GM in the States shut down all GM operations here so the Holden brand is no more. As such all classic Holdens doubled in value overnight. Some of the classic Monaros and muscle cars of the 60's, 70's and 80s quadrupled in price. Those who bought into the VXR8 market will be well rewarded on their modest investment I think now. If you didnt already own one though I doubt the average guy on the street will be able to obtain one now. With Ford not having a V8 in their line up (apart from imported Mustangs) with Holdens demise the Aussie Muscle car is officially dead so its a matter of how much are you willing to pay to buy into those from the past.

[sierra3dr]

This is my monstrosity 🤣🤪

[Rally Pack 2000]

42 minutes ago, sierra3dr said:

This is my monstrosity 🤣🤪

Its a nice one!  Dont take those sort of comments personally lol, if some people see a plastic bumper around these parts they go a bit funny!