Top front ball joint

Top front ball joint

Author
Discussion

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Guys, my top drivers side front ball joint was an advise on the MOT.
I've got the ball joint now, all advice and wisdom appreciated before I start taking the thing to bits.

Chris

Harry1972M

743 posts

243 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Chris,
Where did you source your ball joint / any part numbers etc - mine needs doing also.
Cheers
Graham

ketvrin

3,504 posts

208 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Graham

Its a SAAB 900 item - Q&H QSJ1004S - mine cost £17.00 across the counter at local motor factor, fitted no problem.

K wink

ketvrin

3,504 posts

208 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Barkychoc said:
Guys, my top drivers side front ball joint was an advise on the MOT.
I've got the ball joint now, all advice and wisdom appreciated before I start taking the thing to bits.

Chris
The old one was a bugger to remove due to limited access to the nut (21mm if I recall) and then it had to be separated... I used a good whack with a brass drift to loosen mine as I didnt have a splitter - Tvrgit has an entry in his diary about the appropriate splitter and some advice on effective swearing too - worth a read...
I found the Q&H replacement part to be a perfect fit... I also marked the precise position of the bolts through the upper wishbone mounting for approximate position for re-assembly - you will need the true alignment checked after fitting the new one. the shims go back where they were on reassembly NOTE.
Overall it was not a bad job - there are a couple of photos on myphotoalbum (on my profile page if you take a look)

good luck wink

Edited by ketvrin on Monday 18th June 16:56

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
I got a genuine saab item online for about £21 I think.
I'll sort out the details where I bought it if anyone is interested.
It was detaching the ball joint that I thought would be a pig - otherwise its just the 2 bolts. The joint I bought has come with new bolts anyway so even if they shear its not an issue.
Is it the bit the balljoint connects into that can be moved to adjust camber ?
If so I presume mark it up incase it gets disturbed ?
Or does it have its own fixings ?
Couldn't quite work this bit out from Steve Heaths bible.


ketvrin

3,504 posts

208 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
The holes in the top wishbone where the two bolts fix the ball joint in place are slotted to allow in-out adustment i.e camber. the bit the balljoint itself goes into is fixed and pretty solid.
K wink



Edited by ketvrin on Monday 18th June 17:06

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Thanks Kevin - just been looking at your pics - you can see it clearly on them.
Car needs setting up anyway (planning new springs / shocks) so I'll get it as near as I can to the existing setup.

Cheers

Chris
]

Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 7th July 20:24

pies

13,116 posts

255 months

ketvrin

3,504 posts

208 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
watch out for Pies-Enterprises relisting a pair of these Graham biglaugh

well caught colin

K

tvrgit

8,470 posts

251 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
See my web site diary for 28 December 2006 - there's photos and everything smile

ETA and mine only cost me £11 for the correct QH part... tongue out

Edited by tvrgit on Monday 18th June 18:26

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Thanks - great pics - and some great advice on the bits you don't need to undo ! hehe

Do you reckon careful marking up of old and new components will be OK for now or should I get the geometry checked as a matter of urgency ? I guess it depends on how it feels to drive too.

I wanted to get the geometry sorted when I have got enough dosh to replace shocks & springs & get the play in the rack fixed.

PS TVRGIT - I'm sure you have another name, only you're obviously shy on your website / profile !

Chris

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
A few choices here, where I got mine from.

http://www.elkparts.com/index.php/cPath/72_523_524

Chris

clarenceboddiger

1,398 posts

214 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Barkychoc said:
Do you reckon careful marking up of old and new components will be OK for now or should I get the geometry checked as a matter of urgency ?
As a temp fix why not drop a plumb line from the garage roof, measure distance to wheel rim at top and bottom, then whatever the figures, set the new one up the same, you have to be very accurate if marking at the point of the bolts as a bit out here will be exagerated at the rim.If you measure accurately you will be no further out than if you are now, so nothing lost.

Harry1972M

743 posts

243 months

Monday 18th June 2007
quotequote all
Cheers Guys - Kev may have to pick your brains a bit more before I make a start.

PIES - YHM

Graham

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Sunday 1st July 2007
quotequote all
B O * * O C K S !

Got old joint off, didn't half have to belt the joint splitter hard with a lump hammer.
Thought I might break something, but in that respect all is well.

The pain in the ass is that the new joint doesn't fit - genuine saab too.
The cast surround around the actual moving ball is just a tad too big - so it won't quite slide into the wishbone far enough to retain the original suspension setting.

I did have a flash of 'shall I file a bit off the arm' but no, I can't imagine thats really a top idea.

So will have to get out to the motor factors this week, at least I've got the old one now.
Well shagged too, not a drop of grease in it.

Anyone have any recommendations for a stockist.

Chris

spludge

327 posts

218 months

Sunday 1st July 2007
quotequote all
Barkychoc said:
I did have a flash of 'shall I file a bit off the arm' but no, I can't imagine thats really a top idea.
On mine the inner edge of the wishbone, where it would foul the balljoint, has been rounded or chamfered. Suspect that may have been done at the factory to clear the joints they originally fitted but not needed with the ones on there now.

Filing might be a worthwhile mod, depends how much you need to remove I guess.

K

tvrgit

8,470 posts

251 months

Sunday 1st July 2007
quotequote all
The genuine Saab one doesn't fit straight in.

The Quinton Hazell one does.

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Sunday 1st July 2007
quotequote all
Now you tell me.....
It does actually fit provided you don't need the full range of adjustment, mine is almost fully back into the wishbone though so it doesn't go in far enough, about 1.5mm short.

I'm going to get the QH part, I'm not going to do a bodge job (no offence Ken!)

For anyone else doing this make sure once the ball joint is free you have some cable ties or something to support the hub assembly or it hangs from the brake pipe.

I'd get a forked ball joint splitter (a fiver) and a 'kin big hammer. A 2lb hammer isn't up to the job.
Cut the rubber seal off with a stanley knife to stop it absorbing some of the impact.

Mine was stuck like a fatherless thing.

By the way nuts/bolts securing balljoint to wishbone are 16mm, balljoint securing nut is 19mm.

  • Edited to say new securing bolts with Saab balljoint have 17mm heads
Chris


Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 7th July 19:15

Barkychoc

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

203 months

Sunday 1st July 2007
quotequote all
Piccy time. No I haven't driven the car into the house, I put the old lounge carpet in the garage.
Believe me things are far more tolerable with a bit of carpet under your bum.

Genuine Saab balljoint on left, one removed from car on right.


One shagged balljoint removed from car.


Cable tie supporting hub while I use both hands to scratch my head.




Edited by Barkychoc on Sunday 1st July 19:34

spludge

327 posts

218 months

Sunday 1st July 2007
quotequote all
Not quite quick enough with the edit! biggrin

Given the choice I'd go for the QH part but a minor mod to the wishbone to make it a more universal fit would work just as well, I'm an apprentice trained engineer I'll have you know biggrin

K