CAT 123-2246 BALL JOINT

CAT 123-2246 is a hinged ball joint for Caterpillar engineering machinery, commonly used in steering tie rods, suspension links, control arms, and other components requiring multi-directional rotation and load-bearing. Its core functions are angle compensation, load transfer, and vibration absorption. The following is information on its structured technology and applications.

Core Technical Parameters

Item Details
Basic Attributes Model 123-2246, type is heavy-duty ball joint with dust cover and lubrication channel, ball pin material 40CrNiMoA, ball seat material tin bronze + PTFE composite layer, dust cover material neoprene rubber, surface treatment: ball pin nitriding (hardness ≥850 HV), housing galvanized passivation, single weight approximately 1.8 kg, working temperature -40℃ to +120℃, rated swing angle ±35°, compatible grease is NLGI grade 2 lithium-based grease

Key Dimensions Ball head diameter 38 mm, ball pin diameter 25 mm, total length 165 mm, housing outer diameter 65 mm, mounting hole spacing 80 mm, mounting bolt specification M16×1.5 (2 pieces), ball pin thread M24×2, ball head rotation radius 42 mm, ball seat inner diameter 38.05 mm (gap 0.05 mm), dust cover inner diameter 40 mm 70 mm outer diameter, 80 mm length
Compatible Models and Parts: Compatible with Cat 140M/160M graders, 950M/962M loaders, D6N/D7E bulldozers, including the steering tie rod ends, suspension control arm pivots, bucket linkage joints, etc. One piece per side. Fits a 25 mm diameter pin. Rated static load ≤180 kN
Performance Parameters: Radial rated load ≥120 kN, Axial rated load ≥80 kN, Fatigue life ≥5×10⁵ cycles (under rated load), Coefficient of friction ≤0.08 (grease lubrication), Dustproof rating IP67, Waterproof rating IPX8, Ball joint loosening ≤0.2 mm (new part), Wear limit ≤0.5 mm
Structural and Performance Advantages: Composite ball joint design: Tin bronze matrix + PTFE self-lubricating layer, combining low friction and high load capacity. It can still operate for short periods without oil lubrication, reducing maintenance frequency. Wear life is increased by approximately [percentage missing] compared to pure metal ball joints. 3 times faster.

Sealed Dustproof System: Double-lip dust cover + O-ring effectively blocks mud, water, and dust, protecting the ball head from corrosion. Suitable for dusty and humid conditions, extending service life.

Integrated Lubrication Channel: Center hole drilled in the ball pin + radial oil hole. After assembly, grease can be added periodically via grease fittings to ensure sufficient lubrication between the ball head and the ball seat, reducing wear.

High Strength Load Capacity: The ball pin is made of 40CrNiMoA alloy steel, tempered and nitrided, with a tensile strength ≥1200 MPa and a yield strength ≥950 MPa, capable of withstanding heavy loads and impact loads.

Installation and Maintenance Points

Installation Procedure: Clean the mounting holes and ball joint surface, and check if the ball joint swings smoothly; tighten the housing with M16 bolts (torque 80-90 N·m), ensuring the housing fits snugly against the mounting surface; install and tighten the dust cover, and add grease until overflowing; install the ball pin nut (torque 120-130 N·m) and install a cotter pin to prevent loosening.

Maintenance Cycle: Check the looseness of the ball joint and the integrity of the dust cover every 500 hours; replace if looseness > 0.5 mm; add grease every 1000 hours, shortening to 250 hours under harsh operating conditions; replace the dust cover immediately if damaged to prevent ball joint corrosion.

Common faults and solutions: Abnormal noise from the ball joint is mostly due to insufficient lubrication or a damaged dust cover, which requires adding grease or replacing the dust cover; loose ball pin may be due to a loose nut or worn ball seat, which requires retightening or replacing the joint; stuck ball joint is mostly due to foreign objects entering or worn ball seat, which requires disassembly and cleaning or replacement of the joint.