Ball joint collapsed at 60 MPH today...CRAP!
Discussion
Hi all,
Finally managed to get the wedge out today (first time in a month!) and after only about 10 mins of driving, on a lovely streach of road doing about 55 - 60 MPH the front passenger side collapsed and dropped itself onto the road...I have never been so scared, and bless poor vikki in the car with me - you could say she was a little scared!
The car snaked all over the road and i managed to somehow pull her to a stop without hitting anyone / anything
Turns out that the lower ball joint collapsed and came clean out of the wishbone....Has this happened to anyone before?
Sadly the lower arm sat on the rim and grated a whole section of the inner rim and made a real mess - might need to source a new wheel - FUDGE
Getting the car onto a flatbed was almost enough to make me cry - the front splitter was on the floor
Look at this - sorry the photos arent better but i was a little shaken after it happened!
Finally managed to get the wedge out today (first time in a month!) and after only about 10 mins of driving, on a lovely streach of road doing about 55 - 60 MPH the front passenger side collapsed and dropped itself onto the road...I have never been so scared, and bless poor vikki in the car with me - you could say she was a little scared!
The car snaked all over the road and i managed to somehow pull her to a stop without hitting anyone / anything
Turns out that the lower ball joint collapsed and came clean out of the wishbone....Has this happened to anyone before?
Sadly the lower arm sat on the rim and grated a whole section of the inner rim and made a real mess - might need to source a new wheel - FUDGE
Getting the car onto a flatbed was almost enough to make me cry - the front splitter was on the floor
Look at this - sorry the photos arent better but i was a little shaken after it happened!
carob said:
Matt
That must of been very scary for both of you, glad your both ok.
Just changed the Lower Ball joint on mine here is the part number, QSJ663 Quinton Hazell.
Hope you get it sorted out soon.
Rob
Hi Rob - Cheers...it wasnt a very nice experiance! Although as you say, glad all is well!That must of been very scary for both of you, glad your both ok.
Just changed the Lower Ball joint on mine here is the part number, QSJ663 Quinton Hazell.
Hope you get it sorted out soon.
Rob
Out of interest, why did you change yours? Are they supposed to be a routine change??
Odd, they're held in by three big rivets from the factory, or three bolts if they've been replaced before. Got some chocolate components there? When I had a lower balljoint pop out on my Tasmin it was the ball-pin that pulled out of the socket under braking, it didn't rip the joint off the lower arm...
Edited by Wedg1e on Sunday 10th May 21:11
Wedg1e said:
Odd, they're held in by three big rivets from the factory, or three bolts if they've been replaced before. Got some chocolate components there? When I had a lower balljoint pop out on my Tasmin it was the ball-pin that pulled out of the socket under braking, it didn't rip the joint off the lower arm...
What if the nut had come off the pin ?Edited by Wedg1e on Sunday 10th May 21:11
Seems like the wishbone may have been weak/rotten there, if the joint's gone through. Not unknown, but surely his sort of thing would have been picked up at the MOT ?
My list of things to check before taking the old wreck
to Le Mans is getting longer. There are some odd clunks from the suspension, which I haven't yet traced. Seeing that pic has me a little concerned!Spent all day on it (mainly cosmetic stuff today) and there is still no end in sight!
It made up for it tonight though, with a nice evening thrash
Edited by peaktorque on Sunday 10th May 21:33
t my pants!!!Unlucky Matt and congrats on bringing it to a safe stop , better to have been scared than hurt. Hopefully not to hard to fix , maybe a bit of work needed on the splitrim though .
Anway goodluck with getting it sorted, weather is getting better and not the time to have the wedge off the rd
Anway goodluck with getting it sorted, weather is getting better and not the time to have the wedge off the rd
Reminds me of the time when the long bolt that passes through the rear traling arm/shock mount snapped on the N/S/R of my 400SE just as I was committed to a corner 
There was a bang & the N/S of the car dropped followed by the car behind disappearing in smoke from the tyre hitting the wheel arch
I still do not know how I managed to stop the car without visiting a hedge....amazing at the time how it all feels like it is in slow motion.
The main thing is you are both ok...... at least you were not at Le Mans speed
I would suspect the ball has worn oval & popped out of its socket although many years ago I did see one where the pin sheared from the ball.
I guess when this sort of thing happens it can take a while to regain confidence in the car but you will
especially when the suns out, you've got the hood down & your setting of car alarms left right & center 
....is'nt that what wedges were made for 
Bodders
There was a bang & the N/S of the car dropped followed by the car behind disappearing in smoke from the tyre hitting the wheel arch
I still do not know how I managed to stop the car without visiting a hedge....amazing at the time how it all feels like it is in slow motion.
The main thing is you are both ok...... at least you were not at Le Mans speed
I would suspect the ball has worn oval & popped out of its socket although many years ago I did see one where the pin sheared from the ball.
I guess when this sort of thing happens it can take a while to regain confidence in the car but you will
especially when the suns out, you've got the hood down & your setting of car alarms left right & center ....is'nt that what wedges were made for Bodders
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