Ball joint life expectancy ...?

[T&T]

I guess it depends on how much track action the car has seen, and if its had the hub cooling mod.

In your experience,on std cars how frequently have these been changed, and do the fronts need changing sooner than the rears ?

any feedback would be appreciated .. thx

[robp]

Common (and not unexpected) comment that tracking kills ball-joints, but in well tracked 3R and M400 I have never had a problem with them (or track-rod ends or hub bearings). Others who barely track at all have had them go after a few K miles. So dosn't appear to me to be much of a cause effect relationship.
Mine are all checked at frequent intervals (car goes in for spanner-checks at regular intervals between services depending on how much track work is being done). This just tells you there isn't a problem -it does not 'spare' them at all. Just make sure your suspension and geo are set up correctly and there shouldn't be undue strain on them.
As pointed out in a previous thread the metal blocks above the ball joint can split if they are the wrong sort. Mine did - but fortunately they were 'caught' at an early service and so I didn't experience the problem of my wheel collapsing under me (as AdrianW did). Obviously much more serious than a knackered ball joint.

[Brink]

I remember the balljoints on old the Jags used to last about five minutes. There would be a big "play area" in the middle of the steering!

[T&T]

Cheers

Gary has inspected the car and says they need changing , so they will be done.
The dealer that has the car at the moment seemed surprised that they would need changing on a 12 k car.
From previous threads I've got the impression that they could be considered a consumable (not a whinge, just an observation) and was canvassing opinions from those in the know.

thx for the feedback

[V6GTO]

I'm on my third set of fronts in 14.5k miles, and I think I can hear a knock starting in the front right...consumables is right. I avoid potholes and manhole covers like the plague now.

Martin.

[adrian w]

I dont understand why but Garry tells me the cooling mod makes them last a lot longer, all i can assume is that the heat from the brake travels through the upright and into the balljoints.

[joust]

If they overheat the lubrication in the joint breaks down and you get accelerated wear apparently.

J

[adrian w]

joust said:

If they overheat the lubrication in the joint breaks down and you get accelerated wear apparently.

J

Question has to be asked, why doesent this happen in a Peugeot or a Metro?

[F.C.]

adrian w said:

joust said:

If they overheat the lubrication in the joint breaks down and you get accelerated wear apparently.

J

Question has to be asked, why doesent this happen in a Peugeot or a Metro?

Sh*te brakes???!!!
F.C.

[T&T]

only a guess, but the AP disks and pads probably produce loads more heat than std metro /Pug equivilants.
I think the grease in them dries up, then its metal on metal every time you turn the wheel

[joust]

adrian w said:

Question has to be asked, why doesent this happen in a Peugeot or a Metro?

Apart from the obvious.

This isn't just a Noble thing though, my X5 went through two sets in 30,000 miles.

J

[DanH]

Not just the size of the brakes, its the forces involved. The original ball joints were from a Metro, and the latter were a Laguna or something I think? Neither of these are exactly likely to encounter sports car levels of abuse and weren't spec'd for that job.

Martin drives pretty quick, so I can see why he's caned through even the better newer spec ones.

[Mr Noble]

I asked Gary to change all of mine anyway, and do the brake cooling mod.

Definatly noticed not having the option of going for a drive this afternoon.


Spent the time polishing and waxing the X5. Gosh its hard work getting dry wax off again!!