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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 01 March 2018, 11:25:04

Title: Ball joint replacement
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 01 March 2018, 11:25:04
Failed MOT on F/NS bottom ball joint.

I’d rather do the ball joint alone rather than the arms, as they are poly bushed.

I don’t need to know how to change a ball joint, but can anyone advise on the best way to remove the rivets on the original?

Does the ‘bone need to be removed from the car for this?

Thanks :y

Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: aaronjb on 01 March 2018, 11:42:49
Grind the heads off, I suspect.. (and I'm sure that's what I've read) Maybe doable on the car depending on access and how long you want to lie in the snow..
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 01 March 2018, 11:53:13
Grind the heads off, I suspect.. (and I'm sure that's what I've read) Maybe doable on the car depending on access and how long you want to lie in the snow..

As mentioned in other thread... while there’s white stuff on the ground, you’ll find me in the pub. It can wait :y
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 01 March 2018, 11:53:53
I may even go to one of those places that hire out ramps. My back struggles working on the floor

Can do the exhaust then too
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Nick W on 01 March 2018, 11:59:27
Take the arm off the car, it's MUCH easier that way.
Grind the heads off the rivets, and hammer them out.
Fit the new joint with much less satisfactory bolts.


Personally, I would fit the poly bush to a new wishbone
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Enceladus on 01 March 2018, 13:56:54
I may even go to one of those places that hire out ramps. My back struggles working on the floor

Can do the exhaust then too
Do such places still exist? Had believed they fell foul of health and safety years ago.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 01 March 2018, 14:08:58
Tried drilling the out on mine couple of years back and got sick of waiting, swapped Mr Drill for Mr Angle Grinder and they were off inseconds. As per any angle grinder work be careful, you don't want to make the metal any thinner on the actual wishbone. (it's thinner than you think, actually there)

As said above, definitely remove wishbone, also ideal time for a wire brush and repaint, as you're clearly treating these as serviceable items, rather than disposable.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: TheBoy on 01 March 2018, 17:41:19
Only ever done it once, I drilled the rivet heads off, then punched them through.

Take arm off the car, as Nick W says, far, far easier, and worth the extra 5 mins of hassle.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Automaticman on 01 March 2018, 19:17:06
Think ill be doing this soon as I get a graunch as I pull on/off the drive right hand down  :-\
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Nick W on 02 March 2018, 10:38:58
Think ill be doing this soon as I get a graunch as I pull on/off the drive right hand down  :-\


I would be looking at the strut top mount and bearing rather than a ball joint

Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: deviator on 02 March 2018, 11:13:03
If you don't like using the death wheel, I drill and then chisel the head off.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: terry paget on 02 March 2018, 12:18:11
Think ill be doing this soon as I get a graunch as I pull on/off the drive right hand down  :-\


I would be looking at the strut top mount and bearing rather than a ball joint
How can the tester detect play in strut top mount without dismantling? How can I?
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 March 2018, 13:43:52
By rocking the wheel vigorously 12/6 and watching/listening/feeling for play up the strut ;)
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Nick W on 02 March 2018, 14:51:49
Think ill be doing this soon as I get a graunch as I pull on/off the drive right hand down  :-\


I would be looking at the strut top mount and bearing rather than a ball joint
How can the tester detect play in strut top mount without dismantling? How can I?


The noise is likely to be a dry(or knackered because it's dry) bearing. Don't expect to be able to feel that with everything assembled. The top mount is much the same; they look fine until you compare them to an uncompressed new one.
Removing the strut from the hub carrier to check properly WILL necessitate an alignment session. If the top parts are worn enough to present these symptoms, the strut itself won't be any better. And the springs have probably sagged. This is why the advice is to replace ALL of the wear components in one go. That isn't a cheap job, although it isn't a huge amount of work.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 March 2018, 20:55:00
£6-700 depending on what parts and how much poly to redo the entire suspension...

Worth every penny though ;)
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: cam.in.head on 03 March 2018, 16:52:45
Or could simply be the steering limit stop on the suspension arm either rubbing / lost its rubber end ?
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Automaticman on 06 March 2018, 17:23:21
I like the sound of that, however I have now noticed it makes the noise under braking, no other time whilst driving along, even over speed bumps  ???
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: cam.in.head on 06 March 2018, 19:44:57
check that the lower arm rear vertical bushes havnt seperated from the metal  you should be able to see on full lock or .with a prybar in or screwdriver
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Automaticman on 06 March 2018, 19:56:31
Isn't that an  MOT  fail ?
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 07 March 2018, 09:40:40
Isn't that an  MOT  fail ?
The ball joint did fail ::)
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Nick W on 07 March 2018, 09:45:06
If both the ball joint and the rear bush have failed, then fitting the existing poly bushes to the front of a new wishbone is the way to go. Unless you're into pointless faffing about.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: TheBoy on 07 March 2018, 18:23:38
If both the ball joint and the rear bush have failed, then fitting the existing poly bushes to the front of a new wishbone is the way to go. Unless you're into pointless faffing about.
Depends on the wishbones you order.  Some are quite nasty.

vertical gm bush is a tenner, balljoint is about £15.  Personally, if my originals were quality and serviceable, that's a no brainer to me...
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: cam.in.head on 07 March 2018, 20:38:24
Isn't that an  MOT  fail ?
It is but they could have been ok then. The rubber can detatch itself at any time .easy enough to check the bushes and if the arms have been on for a few years will be getting grotty by now.
This is two posts here getting rolled into one !. Im replying to the question by automaticman.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 07 March 2018, 21:01:47
If both the ball joint and the rear bush have failed, then fitting the existing poly bushes to the front of a new wishbone is the way to go. Unless you're into pointless faffing about.
Depends on the wishbones you order.  Some are quite nasty.

vertical gm bush is a tenner, balljoint is about £15.  Personally, if my originals were quality and serviceable, that's a no brainer to me...

Pretty sure GM rear bushes cost me around £35 each about a year ago.
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Automaticman on 07 March 2018, 23:27:53
Isn't that an  MOT  fail ?
The ball joint did fail ::)

How could it of passed its MOT 3 weeks ago I wonder, I'm thinking I need to contact VOSA.......
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 08 March 2018, 01:12:13
Isn't that an  MOT  fail ?
The ball joint did fail ::)

How could it of passed its MOT 3 weeks ago I wonder, I'm thinking I need to contact VOSA.......
You did read the first post ???
Title: Re: Ball joint replacement
Post by: cam.in.head on 08 March 2018, 14:23:48
the mot tests the car as it is at that very moment. anything can break later that same day and its up to the driver to maintain the car to mot standard.i would check the bushes first .if you are on good terms with the mot garage they might even put it up in the air for you.especially if you explain that you have only judt had it tested a few weeks back ?