New brakes and a stuffed ball joint...

bindi · 01-07-2005, 05:02 PM

Hi all,

I finally got new DBA (not slotted but standard) rotors and some Bendix Advance pads put on the ford.

Hooray! Now the hubby doesn't have to pretend he's in a Messerschmidt, shooting at the enemy - cos the severe steering wobble and shuddering is now gone.

But while there, the mechanic pointed to a bearing that is on it's way out (lower). He suggested to replace the whole arm (including upper and lower ball joints) as apparently they are hard to replace singularly.

Is this true? I just didn't wanna be a typical woman and be taken for a ride. I can see that the joint is worn.

Thoughts?

TURBO_GHIA · 01-07-2005, 06:09 PM

hey

the ball joints need to be pressed in so you cant do it ya self unless you have a press ,some of the front end need to be taken apart ,i had one done about a year ago cost me about $90 and took about an hr and you will need a wheel aliament to,so yeah ,i dont know anyone in the mountains that i would trust to do my car ,i got mine done in emu plains

bindi · 01-07-2005, 06:19 PM

Thanks Jarrod,

Yeah I got the brakes done in Penrith and was quoted $199 fitted for the whole arm (both ball joints). This is per side, although the other side is fine at this stage.

ilsautomotive · 02-07-2005, 10:25 AM

Yeah I was told I need to do mine. From what I was told the part is really cheap but because it requires specialist tools, they charge what they like for labour. Be sure to shop around.

pepsimax · 02-07-2005, 04:40 PM

under car in katoomba are ok,,they did a lot of work on my xf

TURBO_GHIA · 02-07-2005, 06:20 PM

bit on the pricey side tho

Brent-EA Ghia · 02-07-2005, 07:11 PM

Hey bindi, It could be a waste to get the whole arm (called spindle) replaced with an exchange one as the upper balljoints rarely go, atleast compared to the lowers. At work we usually use genuine balljoints on these as they usually last longer.
Jarrod, the car shouldn't need a wheel allignment after you change balljoints, unless they changed the tie-rod ends, and you can usually measure there position pretty accuratly and set the new ones at the same pos.

Brent

bindi · 02-07-2005, 09:39 PM

Yeah but Brent dahhhhhhhhhhhhhling, a) I don't have the proper equipment to do the ball joint myself; b) the dude said that it's a waste of time doing the bottom one only, cos I'll only end up bringing it back after a little while to get the top one done anyway; and c) he also said I would need a wheel alignment after doing the ball joint.

This is why I was asking about being taken for a ride? Do I believe him?!

InitialD · 02-07-2005, 11:28 PM

yes just change the entire arm, thats what I did when my lower balljoints were shagged.

IIRC Balljoints for EA's are $50 each, so $200 for the entire arm isnt too bad since the balljoints alone are $100.

I just looked around wreckers and found some good condition joints and swapped the entire disc arm over. Cost me $25 for a decent arm with good balljoints. Mind you i think one MIGHT be a little sus on my car now :|

bindi · 03-07-2005, 12:43 PM

Ta mate, I had an ok feeling about this one but I just thought I'd run it past you guys, my Yodas

Brent-EA Ghia · 03-07-2005, 08:52 PM

Hey bindi, I pressumed you wouldn't be doing the balljoint yourself ;). The only reason i can see that you would need a wheel allignment is if one has been done on the car previously with the worn balljoint, which the allignment place will usually say that it cannot be done as theres play in the joint. Because replacing a balljoint is only returning it to spec, in the same position as the old one.
It would be a good time to get it alligned though if the car is steering wrong or wearing tyres badly.

bindi · 04-07-2005, 07:33 AM

Heya Brent,

Yeah well it hasn't had a wheel alignment for a fair while now so I will get the ball joint done, put the 4-week-old tyres that are now on the front onto the back, get two newies for the front and wheel align the bugger.

If it has any problems after all of this, I will scream.

Besides the fact that the bastard handbrake isn't working properly. I got under the car last year and replaced the handbrake cable (which was hanging on by a thread), but I get the feeling that the brakes aren't engaging appropriately.

SO that's something else I'll get them to check next week along with everything else as mentioned in the first paragraph!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! So much money! :(