Having built our first beam to SCORE specs, no clearanced or lowered ball joints, only new OEM German ones pressed in tight to the control arms.

We set the hook stops to the new ball joints max travel at lock to lock turning. Only when we replaced our original beam with our back up with good tight german ones did we realize that the front suspension travel increased over an inch.

So the moral of the story is, set up your hook stops with used ball joints. Another secret or obvious item that we overlooked the first time.

so your old BJ's were clearanced (either by use or by someone else)??

I guess you can say that. But the outcome was the same. So many little tricks to learn.

When doing this, make sure your stops are setup correctly. You will not be using the stock steering stops. With less steering, you'll have a bit more travel. Think about what you're doing as you do it. That's the trick!

Not so Jeff, I for 1 have NEVER used clearenced or old balljoints to set up hookstops. The secret is to use the exact same type ball joints each time you change them and take the boot off and remove the rubber type balljoint stop-pad inside the ball joint. Relize that some MFG ball joints are not all the same. Lemforder ball joints are the ones I use, and you will be able to tell the difference by the color of the spiral locks that hold the boot on. Now the real secret is what color combo do you want! on the spiral locks that define the ball joint you want to use. I for one would never use a empi lowerd ball joint on my cars, so what if it gives you MAYBE 1/4 inch more travel? I will take the strength of the Lemforder any race of the week over a POS Empie and besides, unless you remove the front fender completly from the car, you will hardly ever use all the front end travel anyway. I know mine wont with 700-15 tires, the tire just wont go high enough into the fender before it hits and hits the head light mount in the fender. and turning forget it. Put a chain around a floor jack and jack the tire up into the fender and you will see what I mean. There is no way to get around it but then again I would much rather run the 700-15 over a small 205 or 225 because it works better and rides better.

Dave,

Never meant to infer that you used clearanced or EMPI lowered ball joints. The OEM ball joints in the spare beam seem to have the same numbers as the ones we put into the first beam as far as I can tell.
I agree that they( the old ones) had clearanced thenselves with normal wear. They were very tight for being used, so we kept them.
It is a very good point that all manufactures are different. Just thrilled that we gained a little more travel.
Hoped to help some others not to make the same mistakes that we had.

Jeff the Lemforders have the same partnumber but there is a difference in the 2 forsure even though to the eye they may look the same. It is all in the spiral locks to determin, one goes in like a beutty, the other you can brake putting in or if you get it in it is to tight, tightenough to effect the ride

Wow, I thought it was us and not aligning them in the press properly. Screwed one up and had to take it to VW Enterprises for the press in. Yes one stlye goes in tight. You can hear them seat in the arm!

Hi dave. I really enjoy reading your advises. Thank you. I hope I meet you soon.

No problem Raul, on the subject of Ball joints, Lemforder Ball joints are to the point of nearly Impossible to find, I bought some Fibi-Bilstien Ball joints and pressed 2 into arms tonight, they are a fantastic looking part, even better than Lemforder in my opinion. They pressed in perfectly, did not tighten up and the best part about them is they are really pre lubed well. Unlike most that have a small dab of grease on top, these are lubed on the inside very well. This is the first time trying them but so far I am real happy with them. The threads are a fine thread unlike the metric threads you find on most ball joints, and the housing its self looks to be heat treated. Reading some info on them they are made in Spain and are considerd extra heavy duty!? Still have to do the tops, so tommorow will tell me more