Ball joints

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 10:45 am

I know, I know... here we go again with ball joints....

Need an opinion. I know these are supposed to cut their own thread, but the new ones that have landed don't look like they've anything to cut with.

The top thick ridges are not helixed, so I can't see how they'd cut, but the bit underneath doesn't have anything coarse enough looking to me. Just a bit bumpy if you run a thumbnail across it.

Is this right? Am I just being thick?

Difficult to get clear enough pics, but you get the jist. Has someone got a good quality pic of how they should look, please? Might just be being paranoid, but like I said, untrained eye!

Ta!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Mar 11, 09 11:14 am

Yep that's how they are, they will screw in, crude innit?

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 11:33 am

Just a bit!

Cheers, Blue. Will crack on with it as long as we know that's how they's meant to be.

Got a PM from Steve at Beaver bushes too, very helpful fella. just the relevant bit....

Remove the dust boot and you should see very faint lines towards the socket end. This is actually a thread, not deep but it does work.

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Wed Mar 11, 09 11:39 am

Yes, it's scary to think that that is a safety-critical part - if that pops out of the LCA you could be in serious trouble

Strangely I have never heard of a failure, although have heard of LCA's that are worn enough that the balljoint won't hold when installing. One practice is to tack weld the top of bj to LCA.....

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Mar 11, 09 12:26 pm

Strangely I have never heard of a failure

it happens;

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 12:30 pm

Didn't it happen to someone else just after, as well?

Filling me with confidence on this, Lads!

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Wed Mar 11, 09 1:01 pm

as gavin says, stick a weld on as well

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Wed Mar 11, 09 1:02 pm

neil wrote:
Strangely I have never heard of a failure
it happens;

hello neil, guest appearance ! keeping ok ?

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Wed Mar 11, 09 1:14 pm

That's why I welded mine in just a few spots to stop it being unscrewed
yes the left hand ones do unscrew themselves !!!!!

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 4:11 pm

Ah, grand!

I just know this is going to be a fun job...

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Wed Mar 11, 09 6:13 pm

yep, my left one has a touch of weld on it

ball joint that is

Philth · Post by **Philth** » Wed Mar 11, 09 7:01 pm

Yes Stu - whole front end bush replacement is a hell of a fun job...

Tip - start unscrewing them whilst they are still on the car - you don't have a lot of leverage, and watch the paint on the fenders, er I mean wings, but I've heard of control arms being bent out of shape if it's done off of the car and in a vice...

With the inner bushes I burnt out the old rubber and carefully prised the metal sleeve out....with my trusty hammer and chisel and hot sweat. Putting the new ones in was easy-peasy.

"You finished hammering yet?" said my neighbour.

I have a couple of spare poly bushes for the lower arm inner if you want 'em. I decided to go new rubber all round, torqued up with the weight of the vehicle on the ground.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Mar 11, 09 7:21 pm

I have just changed the upper and lower ball joints (small) on Julie's car as a precaution.

The bottom ones are clearly re-useable - the new ones are getting very expensive anow at about £84 a pop

If you want a cheap repair and want to re-use these old ones, then give me a shout. I also have some OK used top ones - your call.

Pete

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Thu Mar 12, 09 8:28 am

Thank's for the offers, Gents, very kind.

Ordered and recieved a full front end teardown kit from Steve at Beaver bushes, though, so think we're all covered.

Very kind bunch, you lot.