as alot of you know, im making my own sleek kit for the FD. i am also duplicating david hayes sleepy eye kit. i am in the process of redesigning pieces of davids kit for ease of installation for others.

right now im working on the arms that raise lower the lights. they will be adjustable so that people can adjust for differences in the body of the car, from car to car. i am in need of a socket style cap (as in ball and socket) that will pop into my new arm and accept the stock ball on the headlight support bucket, and on the motor. the stock ball is 12mm, the diameter of the cap isnt hugely important.

i was hoping the stock clips were removable and there fore reusable but that isnt the case, so i will need new ones.

does anyone know where i can get them or what they are actually called so i can search for them?

 

Maybe something here? http://www.mcmaster.com/#rod-ends/=finbbq

 

i have actually looked there, with no luck.

 

The "ball" on the stock bucket unbolts...why not just replace it with something you can find?

 

^Does the ball unbolt on both ends, as in on the headlight motor as well as the bucket? If so, that seems to be the easiest thing to do.

 

i had considered that, but i wonder if there is some torsional movement to the arm. the reason im thinking there might be is, what is the reason behind mazda doing the ball and socket design if there wasnt?

i fear that if it is replaced with a bolt and a bushing, it will bind its self up. now i could use a bushing that is loose enough to allow for the torsion, but it would likely create an opportunity for the headlight assembly to shake or jiggle.

also i would like it to be as easy as remove the stock, and pop on the new. just for a shorter install time.

 

If you use the ball-joints referenced in the link BizarroTerl provided it will still allow for that, much the same as the ball and socket on the original design...or so I would think.

 

david had pointed me to mcmaster and carr and had seen those. at the time i was hoping to use the stock ball studs. i have since come up with a design i like...



in color