3 and 4 bolt ball joint

[68Jcode]

I know this has come up before, and I did do a search, but didn't find answers to all my questions.

It appears that the consensus is that replacement upper control arms can have 3 or 4 bolts, and it doesn't make a difference.

Did the factory run mixed parts every other week, or was is a case where maybe San Jose ran 4 bolts, and Dearborn ran 3 bolts because they had a different supplier?

Or did they run all 4 bolts until 196X and then run three bolts after that date to reduce cost?

Also, were all factory ball joints actually riveted, and if I've got one bolted on my car it is a service parts?

Finally, is it possible to replace the boot alone?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[JDS68Stang]

I believe the three bolt ball joints where on 6 cyl. Mustangs, they were on my last 68 when we replaced them.

It's actuauly stupid that Ford made a 4 and 5 lug Mustang as well, why machine all these new parts when they could have just done 5 lug on all of them with the same ball joint, brakes, drums etc... w/out all the added expence of engineering, numbering, everything all over again.

Yes you can buy replacement boots, I never have but I have seen them for sale.

 

[A67StangMaster]

I am having to replace my ball joints too beacuse of the new disk breaks, But it looks like you have a V8 car so you would need the 4 bolt.
here is what I found after alittle seraching for parts.

If your going to replace all the bushings up front I would go with this.
http://www.mustangsplus.com/xcart/product.php?productid=1540&cat=2131&page=1

If your going to just replace the upper ball joint I would go with this.
http://www.mustangsplus.com/xcart/product.php?productid=1027&cat=2127&page=1

If your just replacing the lower ball joint you would need to replace the hole lower Arm with the ball joint.(go with this)
http://www.mustangsplus.com/xcart/product.php?productid=1091&cat=2137&page=1

I will just replace the upper ball joints on mine beacuse of the fact that I dont have much money left. lol

 

[bnickel]

65-late 69 used 4 bolt UCA's and late 69-up used the 3 bolt UCA. if the 68 had the 3 bolt UCA it was a service replacement part, all service replacement arms after 69 used the 3 bolt version.

also remember that ford quit making parts for the early cars in the early 80's sometime and any car that need replacement parts would get whatever service replacement part the dealer had and for the UCA that was the 3 bolt version.

your 68 probably had the UCA's replaced sometime in the late 70's or early 80's more than likely, possibly even later than that.

 

[68stang351]

I believe the three bolt ball joints where on 6 cyl. Mustangs, they were on my last 68 when we replaced them.

My 68 (was a 6 cyl) had the 4 bolt ball joints. One of them had been replaced, and the other was original (riveted). Stupid rivets! I will never forget that.