ZF Services the strategic aftermarket business unit of ZF Friedrichshafen AG is now offering a safe and cost-effective solution for ball joint replacement in aluminum control arms with its innovative Ball Joint Safety Kit from Lemförder.
When replacing a ball joint on a vehicle with an aluminum control arm, two options used to exist. The first, to press in a new ball joint, can be unsafe due to material deformation that occurs to the aluminum control arm when the ball joint is pressed out and in. During this process, the surface contact area, press-fit and hoop retention are reduced, compromising repair integrity and vehicle safety. The second and preferred method, to replace the entire control arm, is expensive.
With the Ball Joint Safety Kit, Lemförder has come up with a third option that is both safe and cost-effective. By using a safety locking ring, the new ball joint can be tightened to the existing control arm with the correct locking-torque and arm retention.
The Lemförder Ball Joint Safety Kit is available for several late-model passenger car and light truck applications, including the 2003-2006 Ford Crown Victoria. For this application, the Ball Joint Safety Kit can be of great value to police and taxi fleet managers looking to safely reduce costs.
ZF operates an extensive manufacturing network in North America, combined with global research and development capabilities, to provide advanced technology to the NAFTA region. The ZF Group North American Operations Headquarters and Technical Center is located in Northville, MI.