Top front ball joint
Discussion
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.
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.
Thanks - great pics - and some great advice on the bits you don't need to undo ! 
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 7th July 19:15
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.
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
Got QH balljoint.
Guess what - looks like they are now using a different supplier - the cast metal moulding is now very similar to the genuine saab article, and doesn't fit.
Looks like I'm going to start filing a bit off my top wishbone.
I'm too peeved to post a photo, will do that later.
AND THE SUN IS SHINING !
Chris
Guess what - looks like they are now using a different supplier - the cast metal moulding is now very similar to the genuine saab article, and doesn't fit.
Looks like I'm going to start filing a bit off my top wishbone.
I'm too peeved to post a photo, will do that later.
AND THE SUN IS SHINING !
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 7th July 19:47
I seem to be a PH no mates on this forum, but ITS FIXED !
Here's some pics of what I had to do.
This is the fit of a Quinton Hazell QSJ1004S Balljoint.
You can see the joint won't go far back enough in the bolt holes to be fixed in its original position (look at the old washer imprints)
This is the fit of a genuine Saab balljoint, actually slightly better than Quinton Hazell. (Sorry a bit blurry).
I fitted this one.
Here's what I did to the wishbone to make it fit.
I did all the filing by hand, I didn't want to take too much off at once.
and here's the pigging thing finished.
I had trouble tightening up the balljoint as it kept spinning, in the end frustration set in, a ruddy great wallop with a rubber mallet did the trick.
Also not sure if its worth noting or not but the genuine saab joint had a much smoother action than any of the others I tried. I had a 'continental direct' branded one before the Quinton Hazell one which was very stiff indeed.
The Saab one is in a totally different class though. Dunno if it makes a difference.
Saab one also comes with a full set of bolts, Quinton Hazell one doesn't.
Hope this helps someone else, I'm off for a drive now..........
By the way what do you think of this camera, its a Kodak Easyshare V610 little pocket thing, I only ever point and shoot but its brilliant. 10x optical zoom too.
Here's some pics of what I had to do.
This is the fit of a Quinton Hazell QSJ1004S Balljoint.
You can see the joint won't go far back enough in the bolt holes to be fixed in its original position (look at the old washer imprints)
This is the fit of a genuine Saab balljoint, actually slightly better than Quinton Hazell. (Sorry a bit blurry).
I fitted this one.
Here's what I did to the wishbone to make it fit.
I did all the filing by hand, I didn't want to take too much off at once.
and here's the pigging thing finished.
I had trouble tightening up the balljoint as it kept spinning, in the end frustration set in, a ruddy great wallop with a rubber mallet did the trick.
Also not sure if its worth noting or not but the genuine saab joint had a much smoother action than any of the others I tried. I had a 'continental direct' branded one before the Quinton Hazell one which was very stiff indeed.
The Saab one is in a totally different class though. Dunno if it makes a difference.
Saab one also comes with a full set of bolts, Quinton Hazell one doesn't.
Hope this helps someone else, I'm off for a drive now..........
By the way what do you think of this camera, its a Kodak Easyshare V610 little pocket thing, I only ever point and shoot but its brilliant. 10x optical zoom too.
Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 8th March 20:25
Be aware that the Quinton Hazell I took the pic of above is the latest from them QSJ1004S and I would still have had to file the upper wishbone for it to fit mine in its current position.
The genuine saab needed a bit less filing so I used that one.
Graham the one I bought was also from elkparts the genuine saab one (or so it said).
Still need to get your file out if its as far in as mine.
The genuine saab needed a bit less filing so I used that one.
Graham the one I bought was also from elkparts the genuine saab one (or so it said).
Still need to get your file out if its as far in as mine.
Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 7th July 23:42
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff