Discussion
Richieboy3008 said:
Zoobeef said:
Yeah should be a 10 minute job. Undo 2 ball joints, put new in, do up 2 ball joints
Is it really that simple? I mean, I have the mechanical ability of a dead cat.
MG CHRIS said:
Can and can't be ive had to cut a couple of as the nut as seized to the bolt on the ball joint what car is it by the way. You can just buy the dust covers a couple of pence each but most times in work we replace the links.
The links are rarely extremely expensive in any case - and if you need the car it's better to buy the links as if you do need to cut the old ones off you'll be stuck until the replacements come. IME it's either a very straight forward job or a complete and utter ball ache.
The nuts very commonly corrode to the extent that you have to split them or cut them off, and it can be difficult to this without damaging the strut or wishbone.
Lots of penetrating oil and fingers crossed. Some drop links have flats on the opposite side of the nut to put a spanner on to prevent the ball rotating; you stand the best chance with these. Others have a hex in the end of the thread for an allen key which are useless if the nut is even partially seized. If things get desperate, pop the ball out of it's housing with a bit of brute force and ignorance and use a big pair of mole grips or Stillsons on the ball to hold it still.
One important thing to note - jack the car up so both wheels on the axle are off the ground (and support with axle stands of course). If you only jack up one side you wind up the anti-roll bar and make things very difficult.
The nuts very commonly corrode to the extent that you have to split them or cut them off, and it can be difficult to this without damaging the strut or wishbone.
Lots of penetrating oil and fingers crossed. Some drop links have flats on the opposite side of the nut to put a spanner on to prevent the ball rotating; you stand the best chance with these. Others have a hex in the end of the thread for an allen key which are useless if the nut is even partially seized. If things get desperate, pop the ball out of it's housing with a bit of brute force and ignorance and use a big pair of mole grips or Stillsons on the ball to hold it still.
One important thing to note - jack the car up so both wheels on the axle are off the ground (and support with axle stands of course). If you only jack up one side you wind up the anti-roll bar and make things very difficult.
davepoth said:
MG CHRIS said:
Can and can't be ive had to cut a couple of as the nut as seized to the bolt on the ball joint what car is it by the way. You can just buy the dust covers a couple of pence each but most times in work we replace the links.
The links are rarely extremely expensive in any case - and if you need the car it's better to buy the links as if you do need to cut the old ones off you'll be stuck until the replacements come. Totally agree the replaceable boots are ok in work as if the nuts don't come of then the links will only take 30 mins to arrive from fast parts. With your own car yes it easier to replace them don't think ive paid any more than a tenner for one.
I've changed these links on 3 cars in the last couple of years - a Golf, a Skoda Octavia and a Porsche 911.
In each case, it's been a very simple, ten minute job with no dramas. It was basically - remove road wheel, undo nuts on linkages, remove, place new linkages in, do up nuts.
So you should be fine!
In each case, it's been a very simple, ten minute job with no dramas. It was basically - remove road wheel, undo nuts on linkages, remove, place new linkages in, do up nuts.
So you should be fine!
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I've changed these links on 3 cars in the last couple of years - a Golf, a Skoda Octavia and a Porsche 911.
In each case, it's been a very simple, ten minute job with no dramas. It was basically - remove road wheel, undo nuts on linkages, remove, place new linkages in, do up nuts.
So you should be fine!
Well every time i've done one I've cut the nuts off with a cutting torchIn each case, it's been a very simple, ten minute job with no dramas. It was basically - remove road wheel, undo nuts on linkages, remove, place new linkages in, do up nuts.
So you should be fine!
Might try a spanner next time
thinfourth2 said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I've changed these links on 3 cars in the last couple of years - a Golf, a Skoda Octavia and a Porsche 911.
In each case, it's been a very simple, ten minute job with no dramas. It was basically - remove road wheel, undo nuts on linkages, remove, place new linkages in, do up nuts.
So you should be fine!
Well every time i've done one I've cut the nuts off with a cutting torchIn each case, it's been a very simple, ten minute job with no dramas. It was basically - remove road wheel, undo nuts on linkages, remove, place new linkages in, do up nuts.
So you should be fine!
Might try a spanner next time
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