2B Top Ball Joint Replacement

[Guest david_l_perry]

I just noticed the rubber boots on both my top suspension ball joints are cracked and need replacing, I assume you just replace the entire ball joint unit as they are only £15 ish for a pair rather than trying to replace just the boot seal ??

 

This looks like the standard unit on mine:-

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Transit-top-ball-joints-suitable-for-kit-car-suspension-Robin-Hoods-etc-/301113873058?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item461bc912a2

 

Figured I may need a thin walled socket to get at the nut, and also to Make a note of exact number of turns of each arm when I remove it.

 

Any other hints on what I may need to do the job other than these points I have picked up.

Assume a level of basic stupidity and you won't be far off the mark

 

ta lovers

 

Dave

[speedtripledan]

You are not far off, you will prob need to set tracking and camber once your finished. Also note the position of the dummy strut in the hub as this effects camber and castor.

[Guest peter2b2002]

i have just replaced the bottom ball joint rubbers as they had cracked as there was no sign of rust and still plenty of grease i just replaced the rubbers for 2nd time in 8 years but getting that spring out of the bottom of the rubbers is a bit of a sod

peter2b

[Guest Ian & Carole]

I have used these people several times, the last was to replace all the boots on the Daimler, joints at £20+ X 4 that were all fine or boots at £6.00

 

http://www.balljointboots.co.uk/

[Guest david_l_perry]

I assume its a fairly easy job to replace just the boots then ?

 

Do you still have to remove the entire arm assembly or can you unbolt and just replace the boot with the arm still attached to the wishbone ?

 

Re pack with bearing grease ??

[Guest Dtr36]

I where do you get rubbers from for bottom ball joints plz

[Guest david_l_perry]

A Pair of boots have been ordered and I picked up a splitter tool from my brother so I can have a good go at breaking things......

[agent_zed]

Hi,

i also replaced boots on mine. actually need to do another one this week. If found when i did mine that the spring was trying to pierce the boot so i put a bit of card under the sharp edge as i worked it on. I found i had to work it round to get it on.

 

As long as the balljoint is nice and smooth/tight no reason not to just change boots. The original clear/yellow boots on the RH supplied joints cracked before my car left the garage!

 

I guess they prob also get a bit more sun on them than under a normal car adn UV never does rubber any good.

 

hth

[Mitch]

Hi Dave, well I have seen the results of you trying to undo nuts and bolts, so good idea to order new ones,

then again it was me who tightened them so I know what your up against PMSL

 

Mitch

[Guest david_l_perry]

Ok so the boots arrived and I got myself a splitter to smash things to bits with....

 

 

 

 

I have removed the wheel, disc and calliper for better access and pulled off the perished remains of the boot for the track rod end - its all visible here:-

 

 

 

I have removed the bolt from below the taper joint (this came off fairly easy) but no matter how hard I strike the splitter I am not getting any movement

 

 

First up - do I have the splitter in the right place.....

 

I think its probably just seized but don't want to keep smashing it if I am missing something .......

 

Any suggestions or is it just hit it harder.....

 

Dave

Edited March 29, 2014 by david_l_perry

[fry61]

You say "removed bolt from below taper joint" don't you mean "removed nut from inside dummy strut" ----- hope so.

[theduck]

took a few good whacks with a hammer to release mine, getting the nuts back on is rather difficult.

[Guest david_l_perry]

Yep, sorry. Removed the nut from the underside of the track rod end....

[fry61]

If you can get the swing right ---- two hammers used in unison --- to strike opposite faces of the dummy strut. Use your jack to put an upward load on the wish-bone near the strut. Was always a sure-fire way to separate mini ball joints & with-out a splitter

[alanrichey]

I tried and failed to split mine using the tool you had. Finished up getting one of these and did it easily.