I just found this ( Hop Up 53035 Avante Ball End covers)

[MAD RACER]

My Avante came with 2 of these boxes of rubber boots.

Never thought much of them & going through my Avante bits I found a NIP set.

I Googled it and the last set sold on E bay for $60. Is that what they are really worth??

I really got a steal with my Avante then.

Cheers

M/R

[Olly_Lunchbox]

Don't get too excited!

A set sold on UK eBay 12 days ago for just £6.05 but there were 3 bidders so people must want them.

Whether one set was hugely overpriced or one set was hugely underpriced who can say?!

[Tamiya Era]

Don't get too excited!

A set sold on UK eBay 12 days ago for just £6.05 but there were 3 bidders so people must want them.

Whether one set was hugely overpriced or one set was hugely underpriced who can say?!

YEa...this was sold to me and was sooo happy to get it for this price as these r very rare and could go high in price.. ( lucky me ) :-)

[Grastens]

I would go with 'underpriced' on your deal, but the other set at $60 sounded very overpriced to me.

I would have picked a set up but would have had no clue how to use one! Searching brought up no pictures of the ball end cover set actually being used on a car, despite its usefulness in protecting the metal-to-metal surfaces from grit, etc..

[Gruntfuggly]

I was wondering what they looked like installed too - anybody on here got any pictures?

[MAD RACER]

Here are some installed on my Avante by the previous owner

I think I went to install them on the front with the left over ones that he installed. Too hard for me and gave up as the front end dosn't cop all the debris from the wheels .

[Grastens]

Here are some installed on my Avante by the previous owner

*relevant image*

SO. PRACTICAL. Why did I never pick up a set? It is actually a lot like I had imagined; are the screw heads covered too?

[Gruntfuggly]

Are they soft rubber? I know that ball joints in general don't really need a huge amount of protecting, but I think they are kind of cool - I'd use them everywhere if I could get a load of them...

[djmcnz]

Like everything else on the Avante, completely over engineered (and apparently overpriced! ).

A more pragmatic solution:

And those Avante ones look like they'd restrict some movement?

[Gruntfuggly]

Those look pretty neat too - what sponge did you use?

[djmcnz]

Those look pretty neat too - what sponge did you use?

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=53980

Comes standard with the TRF buggy kits.

[Gruntfuggly]

I thought you'd made them yourself!

[djmcnz]

no - but I suppose if I ever needed to replace them I'd make them myself, it's pretty straight forward. You just need some low density foam.

[Grastens]

Though from what I see, the Avante metal ball ends are open on both sides as opposed to the ball cup used with the foam blocker as seen in the photo. Hence, I would imagine that there is still a need to enclose the entire ball link since dirt can enter through either the top of the link or the bottom.

Or did you mean that ball cups were more practical than the metal ball links?

[djmcnz]

You're right Grastens, the foam really only works for captured ball ends.

I initially meant the entire setup, as per the whole Avante, is over engineered. But I like this to be honest, it's a wonderful quirk of the vehicle.

[94eg!]

...But I like this to be honest, it's a wonderful quirk of the vehicle.

Until they wear out and require replacing.

[Tamiya Era]

But for shelf queen, u dont have to worry on replacing the + great look.

[Grastens]

But for shelf queen, u dont have to worry on replacing the + great look.

Of course not! The ball ends are brilliant on display...

... though I have taken a look at the RPM nylon ball links. Could an Avante be retrofitted with those?

[94eg!]

Bah. May as well step up to the most modern Tamiya reinforced connectors in the ultra smooth "grey" material (part # 54257). They are the same material from the TRF line of touring cars, only super thick for off-road. Plus they say Tamiya on them.

[djmcnz]

Come in black too, exactly as I'm using in the pic above.

They don't really fit the Avante theme though.

[HunterZero]

Overengineered rose joint boots FTW! They do hurt your fingers fitting them to the car though.

- James

[94eg!]

Come in black too, exactly as I'm using in the pic above.

They don't really fit the Avante theme though.

The black ones are the early version. These gray ones are a special material for uber-smooth motion.

[Johnboy22.]

Where can eye buy sum ov these balljoint covers?