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Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:55 pm

I've got new ball joints ready to install - I understand about installing them with notches facing front and back (parallel to beam) but not sure the purpose of the plastic cones that came with the new parts.
I've read where the boots can be removed for installation, then put back on after the BJ's are pressed into place - is this the purpose of the cones? If so, how is that done?
Sorry to be so simple-minded about this, thanks.

Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:57 pm

Aren't those plastic cones just for shipping, like protective covers?

Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:09 pm

ah, that makes sense based on the size as they seemed to be too big to do anything with the boots. I guess I just got the boot install part stuck in my head - I'm a dummy lol.
thank you!

Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:25 pm

Cusser wrote: Aren't those plastic cones just for shipping, like protective covers?

That's what I thought they're for. There was one of those on the new tie-rod end I just bought.

Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:18 pm

Those are dust covers. They split when I put them on, but I believe it is what modern metrics have. Not meant for the beetle from my estimation of why mine split right away. That and normally cheap materials on my meyle bjoints. I've heard of them trapping moisture and causing more problems than it prevented.

Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:25 am

The hard plastic covers are to prevent damage to the soft boot in shipping, remove them before installing or they'll break on installation and then you have sharp edges that could damage the boot.

Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:06 am

Sorry, but I disagree(i am no expert) My acura integra had similar boot covers stock from the island. When I took them out I cut the dust cover (what was left) off to see the condition of the actual bjoint covers which were good because of the outer covers. Took me a while but I found a link to what these are trying to be... http://suspension.com/bjb.htm

When do the Chinese pack anything with consideration to care during shipping? They don't... And it already comes in a box, why a sleeve inside a box? Its about the bottom dollar. Those are a half hearted attempt at making a dust cover, that goes outside the dust cover. They are nowhere near the pliability and thickness required for the intended use. And they don't have the little holder springs the older ones did. I do not have anything against Chinese people, very much opposite that. Chinese retailers on the other hand...

Have you noticed that they are not plastic? They are psuedo-thane of some sort.

Besides...they are much more difficult to install with these covers on, obviously denoting the "correctness" of the choice. 😕

I could be 100% wrong... I'm not getting the funny uneasy stomach feeling over this one though. Definitely not stock so there is an easy excuse for most not to investigate. And I've had some otherwise very knowledgeable folks tell me to discard these things, and in the past I have just chucked them. And on the bug they lasted for a single day before splitting. So if you get the cheapos it may be worth your strain to chuck them.

Hope this argumentation helped a little. Or let you know I'm an idiot, one of the two.

Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:40 am

I don't think that you're right in this case :) I'm not sure what the Chinese do on this stuff, the BJ's I used were not Chinese mfg. Initially, I knew that these plastic covers were not going into the final install, I was just wondering if they were provided as a re-install aid in case the rubber boot itself needed to be removed for BJ installation.
I noticed that the boots did not need to be removed for lower arm installation as the BJ is pushed in from the bottom side. Putting a little grease on the boot allowed the BJ to be installed through the arm hole without the need for boot removal. This is the rubber boot I'm talking about, the plastic cover was discarded.
On the uppers the BJ is pushed in from the boot side so I carefully removed the rubber boot by unwinding the clip. After installation I simply re-installed the boot. Again the plastic cover was discarded - I agree that they are shipping covers.

Installed BJ, no plastic cover.

The only thing I did use those plastic covers for was as a paint protector to keep paint off of the rubber boot/stem.

Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:26 am

I'm not Chinese, and I'm not here to defend China.

But Chinese manufacturers and vendors will make/ship/whatever the distributors ask for and pay for !!!

Like my company: we used to wrap soap bars with a cardboard liner, then a thin paper wrapper. That cardboard is long-gone for cost-savings.

Sat Jul 19, 2014 5:07 pm

The one in your picture seems a little more stiff than what came on the meyle ones, I mashed em in there and they sure look a lot like the ones on my tegra, except they split.
Almost seem wrong without em. However... Takes a while to wear these out normally, so what do you say, let's time it ☺. I did mine two weeks ago dust covers on. A few yearsnfeom now we may remember this if they go out.

Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:31 am

Dont mean to hyjack a thread but you all were talkin ball joints and I had a question. Where can I find the SPECIAL ball joints for the lowered beetle (1969) I need to change mine and I wanto go with the increased movement style of ball join

Thx Toby