Bottom ball joint ball-ache

fubar andy

Moderator & N/W Rep
Staff member
Andy,are your ball joints shot,if not just replace the boot.
Honeslty I didn't know you could replace the boots...

TBH I've bought them now, but its good to know I can replace the rubbers if needed.

Is replacing the boots a faff? Where do I get the rubber boots from, ebay?

Plus the car is going on track, so I feel its better to replace for new units for peace of mind than run 30 year old ones.
 

stugtir300

Active Member
Mine failed a while back on the ball joints because the boots where perished,the joints themselves where fine,so I replaced the boots,I also did the same on the adjustable rear drop link on the drivers side,passed the mot and yes I brought them off ebay.
 

Cathode

Active Member
Mine failed a while back on the ball joints because the boots where perished,the joints themselves where fine,so I replaced the boots,I also did the same on the adjustable rear drop link on the drivers side,passed the mot and yes I brought them off ebay.
i'm not surprised your balls and joints are knackered,
 

rfkdemon

New Member
Yes it's just the boots that are slightly split, joints are fine!

Do you have a link to the ones on Ebay so I can find them?

Legend if I can just change those as I spend hours setting the car up for sprints and don't want to mess with my current settings!

Mat
 

fubar andy

Moderator & N/W Rep
Staff member
How in the arse burgers do you push these feckin ball joints in.

I've tried to hammer them in and they don't budge.

I'm wondering if I'm missing anything or need to find a press to get these in?
 

johnny gtir

Well-Known Member
Just be carefull I had a few brands and some won’t go and others slack . Clean area esp if painted/powder coated or old. A few mm will stop them. Little bit of lubricant but yes press them in make sure it’s lined up and with the right size ie old socket as not to damage it
 

Cathode

Active Member
How in the arse burgers do you push these feckin ball joints in.

I've tried to hammer them in and they don't budge.

I'm wondering if I'm missing anything or need to find a press to get these in?
They’re either that 1mm too big or they fit. And even if they “fit” they’re difficult to get it. Try putting a jack below the ball joint while it’s in-situ in wishbone and jack the bigger in. Should just “pop”
 

fubar andy

Moderator & N/W Rep
Staff member
Right good news and bad news.

Good news is that they are fitted.

It look a little bit of filling down of the biting points and some heat (kind of).

38.5mm ball joints were a little too big for 37.8mm holes.
Plus the Nissan holes were NOT round, they were weirdly oval-ish by a few point of a mm.

Anyways after some heat and filling I've been able to push them on with a big ass vice.

However, the heat totally melted one of the rubber boots, so now I'm kind of back to square one.

If anyone has some links to spare rubber boots, would be helpful as ebay has just got crap on it.

Getting the joints in.

20240505_124622.jpg20240505_125231.jpg20240505_125301.jpg


However as mentioned, the boot just broke down and fell apart due to the heat.

One side

20240505_164039.jpg

The other side without a boot

20240505_164048.jpg

I just need to find a replacement boot now ffs!
 

Cathode

Active Member
Ok. I have some more ball joints but you only wanted the boot. These boys are a touch bigger than standard. Do you think they’ll be any good to you ?
 

rfkdemon

New Member
Mine failed a while back on the ball joints because the boots where perished,the joints themselves where fine,so I replaced the boots,I also did the same on the adjustable rear drop link on the drivers side,passed the mot and yes I brought them off ebay.
Do you have the link for the boots you bought?

Thanks,
Mat
 
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