Discussion
kambites said:
Jazoli said:
The part is £20 or less, and probably an hours labour, so less than £100, it depends on the garages labour rates.
The front alignment will need resetting too, which is, what, £30-40 usually? Krikkit said:
For an anti roll bar on a humdrum MacPherson strut? Probably overkill.
Probably depends on how hard they have to hit it to get the old ball joint out. 
Good point that it'll be a strut setup though, so probably less likely to go out of adjustment if things are moved around. For some reason I had double wishbones in my head.
If you know what you’re doing with ball joints it’s just one or two clouts in the right place which doesn’t stress the wishbone. You don’t need wheel alignment.
It should be a 30 min job at any self respecting garage.
That’s IF they have to replace the ballpoint. It doesn’t say there is wear so it’s possible the rubber boot just needs reseating and cable tying in place.
So have a look for yourself and see if the boot is split or has just popped out of place.
It should be a 30 min job at any self respecting garage.
That’s IF they have to replace the ballpoint. It doesn’t say there is wear so it’s possible the rubber boot just needs reseating and cable tying in place.
So have a look for yourself and see if the boot is split or has just popped out of place.
kambites said:
Krikkit said:
For an anti roll bar on a humdrum MacPherson strut? Probably overkill.
Probably depends on how hard they have to hit it to get the old ball joint out. Good point that it'll be a strut setup though, so probably less likely to go out of adjustment if things are moved around. For some reason I had double wishbones in my head.
ARB drop links have nothing to do with alignment on any car, you simply cut them off and bolt a new one on.
Circa £60 at an average garage, could be less, could be more dependent on where you take it. You might want to ask their advice on what the other side looks like and have that done at the same time if it looks a bit worn or old. It'll save time and money in the long term as they are cheap as it's the associated dicking around (by both parties) which incurs the most time and cost.
Evoluzione said:
ARB drop links have nothing to do with alignment on any car, you simply cut them off and bolt a new one on.
I've changed enough to have a good idea of what does and doesn't happen when you try and free a ball-joint which has been slowly welding itself onto a hub for the last 11 years. Whatever type of splitter I've used I've never managed it without applying considerable force to the upright. As I said though I have little experience of strut based systems which I would guess are more solidly located than more complex setups.
Evoluzione said:
Circa £60 at an average garage, could be less, could be more dependent on where you take it. You might want to ask their advice on what the other side looks like and have that done at the same time if it looks a bit worn or old. It'll save time and money in the long term as they are cheap as it's the associated dicking around (by both parties) which incurs the most time and cost.
That's a good point. If it's wear rather than damage the other side probably wont have much life left in it. kambites said:
Evoluzione said:
ARB drop links have nothing to do with alignment on any car, you simply cut them off and bolt a new one on.
I've changed enough to have a good idea of what does and doesn't happen when you try and free a ball-joint which has been slowly welding itself onto a hub for the last 11 years. Whatever type of splitter I've used I've never managed it without applying considerable force to the upright. As I said though I have little experience of strut based systems which I would guess are more solidly located than more complex setups.
Evoluzione said:
ARB drop links have nothing to do with alignment on any car, you simply cut them off and bolt a new one on.
^^^ This, the failure is for a knackered boot on a drop link. Quite what alignment, splitting ball joints and whacking things has to do with that I don't know. wolf1 said:
kambites said:
Evoluzione said:
ARB drop links have nothing to do with alignment on any car, you simply cut them off and bolt a new one on.
I've changed enough to have a good idea of what does and doesn't happen when you try and free a ball-joint which has been slowly welding itself onto a hub for the last 11 years. Whatever type of splitter I've used I've never managed it without applying considerable force to the upright. As I said though I have little experience of strut based systems which I would guess are more solidly located than more complex setups.
I can tell you that as someone who runs a business working on cars
wolf1 said:
kambites said:
Evoluzione said:
ARB drop links have nothing to do with alignment on any car, you simply cut them off and bolt a new one on.
I've changed enough to have a good idea of what does and doesn't happen when you try and free a ball-joint which has been slowly welding itself onto a hub for the last 11 years. Whatever type of splitter I've used I've never managed it without applying considerable force to the upright. As I said though I have little experience of strut based systems which I would guess are more solidly located than more complex setups.
I wonder if he is mixing up ARB link and bottom arm ball joint.
The dick with ARB links is that they often use a small hex in the tail of the thread that's meant to let you hold it still while undoing the nut - unlike a taper fit on a track rod end etc, they are quite likely to just spin uselessly once the nut is slightly undone, but of course have threads with enough rust that the amount of torque needed is still enough to chew up the internal hex!
Some are better and have spanner flats on the other side, but yes, having spent enough time fighting the things, if they won't undo easily first time, I usually just cut them off now.
Some are better and have spanner flats on the other side, but yes, having spent enough time fighting the things, if they won't undo easily first time, I usually just cut them off now.
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