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[Olympia5776]

Does anyone have an old wishbone that can get some measurements off the ball joint ?

Whilst fitting new struts I noticed that the bottom ball joint boot is split . The wishbone is probably 3 years /6 K miles old and the ball joint is as new , there is a metal cover over the joint and it seems to have caught and torn the rubber .
Anyhow , I can get a new ball joint and power file off the rivets but frankly the cost over here in Ireland is extortionate so I would change the rubber but need to get the right size for the replacement .
The overall dimension is 40mm but without splitting it I cannot be certain what the actual body and shaft diameter is .
Thanks .

[annihilator]

Look for Gareth Mcaleer on Facebook he's in your part of the world and breaks omegas. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Should only be £12 or so

But I suppose now all your stuff comes direct from Euroland

[johnnydog]

Measuring a brand new genuine GM balljoint, the shaft diameter is 18mm.
Hope that helps.

[Olympia5776]

Measuring a brand new genuine GM balljoint, the shaft diameter is 18mm.
Hope that helps.

Many thanks for that JD .
I searched through my spares cache for my BMW and found this rubber boot .I'll split the lower wishbone later and check but if you have a new balljoint at hand could you tell me what the two dimensions are across the red lines , especially the larger ,lower diameter where it sits over the body .
Cheers .
Don

[johnnydog]

The shaft of the ball joint is 18mm along its whole length (apart from the cross groove for the securing bolt) because it isn't a taper.
The bottom of the boot is secured by a wire spring clip, which are often strained when removed and don't go back on securely as when manufactured.
As it is a brand new one, I'm not prepared to remove it, but taking the thickness of the rubber into account (possibly 1mm?), then the diameter of the groove which it sits in is 'give or take' 35mm.

[cam.in.head]

yes thats the fiddly part. you have to carefully "wind" them in without piercing the rubber.
i must admit thou that i always remove the boots first on any new joint .you would be surprised( or not nowadays) at how little grease they put in them.
and ....in most cases .regreasing and re booting a GOOD original joint is always going to be better than a new noname part.

[Olympia5776]

Thanks Lads , I appreciate your help.
The one I have is 30mm diameter at base,so too small .
It looks like I'll source some boots in UK and have a friend post them over .
£23 postage for a £5 item ....

[Doctor Gollum]

It should be tapered 

[johnnydog]

It should be tapered 

No, that is incorrect. It pains me say that, but....you are wrong
The top of the shaft is slightly shamfered to aid fitting into the hub assembly, but the main body of the shaft is straight - 18mm above and below the slot for the securing bolt.
Tapered shafts are usually only found on ball joints secured by a nut on a thread at the top of the joint (shaft).

[Olympia5776]

It is a clamp fitting not a tapered shaft/nut .

[Doctor Gollum]

Not looking for an argument, but that's wasn't my recollection of them having replaced several pairs.

Not that I have an old one to look at, and I'm certainly not going to buy one just to double check... 

[Doctor Gollum]

That said, the pinch bolt is what holds it in rather than thread/nut

[johnnydog]

Not looking for an argument, but that's wasn't my recollection of them having replaced several pairs.

Not that I have an old one to look at, and I'm certainly not going to buy one just to double check... 

No ones wanting to argue  .
If it is only a recollection, then you shouldn't really have been adamant in your comment, but actually rely on the observations of someone who had a new ball joint physically in their hand measuring with a micrometer...

[Doctor Gollum]

Perhaps I should have included a question mark along with in my post...