Ball joints and tracking

[BonzoG]

Just in from a test drive after replacing the front lower ball joints - again! Job jobbed so to speak, but how the hell have I managed to knock the tracking out? I've only touched the ball joint, damper and anti-roll bar bolts. Steering feels great but the wheel is about 1/8th of a turn off-centre - exactly the same as last time I changed them.

The workshop manual, and anywhere selling the ball joints, insist that "This is replaceable without having to re-align the suspension".

Not in my experience it ain't! Or is 'suspension' as distinct from 'steering'? Or am I just doing it wrong

[skinny]

if there's slack in the steering arm ball joint, then when it gets tightened up with a new part, it will change your hub relative to the steering wheel. it's normal to need to adjust the front toe after changing these bits.

[Angelus]

If you've finished replacing all the parts you need to, I would take the car to CLCM in Sighthill in Edinburgh. He is just as you come into the estate off the A71. I arrived and took one look at his very old asbestos garage and thought, I'm not taking my car in there. Anyway, out rolled a Bentley and mine goes in. Inside is all the latest laser alignment kit, amazing to watch. What a difference in the car. Best £50 I've spent this year.