What could I use to fashion a ball joint socket?
Discussion
My Golf just failed its MOT on a broken level sensor for the Xenon headlights. It turns out there's nothing wrong with the actual sensor but there is a little rod with ball joints at either end to link the suspension arm with the sensor arm and one of the ball joint sockets has departed company.
The pictures are a bit rubbish as they were taken in the dark last night with only a phone for lighting.
Doing some googling suggests that I will only be able to buy a whole sensor from VW for about £127 which seems ridiculous given that only a tiny little plastic socket worth about 30p has failed. Consequently I've been thinking about how to make a new ball joint socket to replace the failed one.
Current thoughts were:
The pictures are a bit rubbish as they were taken in the dark last night with only a phone for lighting.
Doing some googling suggests that I will only be able to buy a whole sensor from VW for about £127 which seems ridiculous given that only a tiny little plastic socket worth about 30p has failed. Consequently I've been thinking about how to make a new ball joint socket to replace the failed one.
Current thoughts were:
- Find some sheet metal, clip it into a cross shape, bend the tabs around the ball, insert long tab up rod, crush rod onto it
- Find tube of slightly larger diameter than rod, cut slit in end for base of ball, slide over ball and bend end to stop ball escaping. Slide other end of tube over rod, drill hole through both and affix with nut and bolt.
. On with the googling.http://www.mcgillmotorsport.com/rod-ends-bearings-...
Edit to add: I have nothing to do with them but I think they sell what you want.
Edit to add: I have nothing to do with them but I think they sell what you want.
Fastdruid said:
http://www.mcgillmotorsport.com/rod-ends-bearings-...
Edit to add: I have nothing to do with them but I think they sell what you want.
Unfortunately they (and the rest of the internet) don't seem to do just the socket part of a ball joint. It seems one can only buy the complete joint complete with ball which either has a rod coming out or a whole to put a rod through.Edit to add: I have nothing to do with them but I think they sell what you want.
TurboHatchback said:
Fastdruid said:
http://www.mcgillmotorsport.com/rod-ends-bearings-...
Edit to add: I have nothing to do with them but I think they sell what you want.
Unfortunately they (and the rest of the internet) don't seem to do just the socket part of a ball joint. It seems one can only buy the complete joint complete with ball which either has a rod coming out or a whole to put a rod through.Edit to add: I have nothing to do with them but I think they sell what you want.
Your ball is going to be very worn.
Fastdruid said:
Would it not be better to replace the lot though?
Your ball is going to be very worn.
On the broken end the ball is part of the bracket it is attached to. To replace the lot would involve cutting off the ball and drilling a hole through the bracket which would be nice to avoid if possible. If I could make a rod with a new socket on each end and just pop it on that would be perfect.Your ball is going to be very worn.
TurboHatchback said:
Fastdruid said:
Would it not be better to replace the lot though?
Your ball is going to be very worn.
On the broken end the ball is part of the bracket it is attached to. To replace the lot would involve cutting off the ball and drilling a hole through the bracket which would be nice to avoid if possible. If I could make a rod with a new socket on each end and just pop it on that would be perfect.Your ball is going to be very worn.
Well I popped the wheel off and got a vernier gauge on the ball, it is apparently 10mm in diameter. I've ordered some ball joints with 10mm balls and some M6 threaded rod. Hopefully that should allow me to either remove the balls and just use the sockets or if that's not possible then use the whole joint.
I'll update with pictures how it goes.
I'll update with pictures how it goes.
I was at a model engineering exhibition a couple of weeks back looking at a box full of these things in assorted sizes and materials (and a load of spherical bearings also) and wondering what I could use them for. Lovely bits of kit, and starting prices from less than a quid.
If only you'd asked earlier...
If only you'd asked earlier...
Well it is now fixed. Some ball joints and threaded rod were purchased from Farnell and now I have a shiny new MOT with no advisories .
The problem in daylight:
Shiny bits:
New rod with one complete joint and one end using the existing ball with a new socket:
In place on the car:
In context:
Total parts cost for this fix was about £7.40 and now it is better than new. The ball joints have some copper grease in them to stop them getting stiff, hopefully this should last the life of the car. Thanks for the suggestions.
.The problem in daylight:
Shiny bits:
New rod with one complete joint and one end using the existing ball with a new socket:
In place on the car:
In context:
Total parts cost for this fix was about £7.40 and now it is better than new. The ball joints have some copper grease in them to stop them getting stiff, hopefully this should last the life of the car. Thanks for the suggestions.
Mr2Mike said:
Good fix, though copper grease is for anti-seize purposes and not meant for general lubrication of moving parts. Normal lithium grease would be more appropriate.
It would but I didn't have any to hand. I'm sure the copper grease will do just fine but if I take it apart for maintenance at some point I'll use Lithium grease.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff