OEM upper ball joints

[m22mike]

What's the history on round top and flat top upper ball joints used in the 67, 68, 69, time frame ?
My Aug 68 1st week of production Chevelle has round top, Gradys Nov 68 built, 69 Nova were flat, and the older NOS upper arms I used on the last COPO build were also flat.
Was it just a vendor thing ?

Mike

[Postsedan]

Good Question Mike.

My take is - GM had two different vendors for these ball joints. It was not a plant only part. As other GM makes....of the same years had them.

Dan

[m22mike]

That's what I'm kinda' thinking too, we'll probably see some more input here ? I hope.

Mike

[Verne_Frantz]

Mike,
I don't if this applies to your years, but in the earlier years, the flat top ones were used on the heavy duty chassis for police and taxi. They had a special metal liner inside. You might want to compare chassis options on the cars that have different ball joint styles.
Maybe that's a clue??

Verne

[m22mike]

After checking some other 68 69 cars it looks like it my just be vendor related ? Still interested in any input.
Verne, never heard any mention in the past on HD joints in there era I was asking about ? Interesting to learn that on the early 60's cars.

Thanks Mike