Is this circlip needed on ball joint?

[Adam32]

I have just pressed out my old lower ball joint on my 1.3 2009 mitsubishi colt (see picture of old ball joint in place) and there was no circlip on it, but the new one comes with a circlip. I don’t understand this, as it presses in on a taper and the bottom cannot pass through the arm. It is then bolted in place so everything holds as it should. The only place where the circlip would fit that it ships with is right on the bottom at the widest part, but there would be no point in this. I’m a little confused as to why this is needed, particularly as the old one had no circlip and it has been perfectly safe for 150k miles.

Please see pictures below

[finlo]

It possibly has more than one application.

[E-bmw]

Are you sure that is tapered?

It looks to be parallel with different stepped dimensions to me.

If that is the case the act of removing the old one from the pressed rather than cast control arm would possibly have a tendency to open the hole slightly, and maybe not so secure when fitted with a replacement.

In which case if it fits above the pressed arm, that is where I would possibly expect it to go.

You say otherwise & as you have it in your hand it would be easier for you to see.

Just my thoughts, although as per above, it could just be that the ball joint does have different uses.

[TwinKam]

Recently did some Fiesta ones just like this, the circlip fits above the arm adjacent to the gaiter and is simply a failsafe... belt and braces.

[E-bmw]

TwinKam said:

Recently did some Fiesta ones just like this, the circlip fits above the arm adjacent to the gaiter and is simply a failsafe... belt and braces.

As above, this is what I would have expected in my ignorance of this specific job.

[ARHarh]

From my point of view its not going to stay in a taper without some form of fixing, so as suggested the clip goes in the smaller diameter end of the taper.

[TwinKam]

ARHarh said:

From my point of view its not going to stay in a taper without some form of fixing, so as suggested the clip goes in the smaller diameter end of the taper.

The body is not tapered, only the pin.

[Megaflow]

TwinKam said:

Recently did some Fiesta ones just like this, the circlip fits above the arm adjacent to the gaiter and is simply a failsafe... belt and braces.

What he said. The ball joint goes in from underneath and has a shoulder on it that locates against the arm, the circlip is the fitted to the top.

Looks like somebody has already fitted new joints and not put the clip on last time.

[Adam32]

TwinKam said:

Recently did some Fiesta ones just like this, the circlip fits above the arm adjacent to the gaiter and is simply a failsafe... belt and braces.

So are you suggesting the circlip goes where I have drawn an arrow to below? I can't see how that would make sense?

[E-bmw]

Adam32 said:

TwinKam said:

Recently did some Fiesta ones just like this, the circlip fits above the arm adjacent to the gaiter and is simply a failsafe... belt and braces.

So are you suggesting the circlip goes where I have drawn an arrow to below? I can't see how that would make sense?

As has been said above by me & at least 2 others it will stop the ball joint from slipping off downwards.

Once the pressed steel control arm has had the joint removed & replaced it's hold on the ball joint will be less, in fact there likely should have been one there initially as it looks like there is the semblance of a rusted groove there in the one removed.

[Megaflow]

Adam32 said:

So are you suggesting the circlip goes where I have drawn an arrow to below? I can't see how that would make sense?

You are looking at the old one without the circle fitted, and the groove has been filled with road crap. Fit the new joint and you’ll see where the clip goes

[TwinKam]

Not all of the original ones will have a circlip groove, yours doesn't. But if the replacement does (arrowed), and comes with a circlip too, it's telling you something, use it.