Lower Ball Joints
Moderator: RichardW
Lower Ball Joints
HI
I'm going to change my lower ball joints. There's no slack but the rubber protector is cracked on both, so I guess it's a good idea.
Do I need any special tools? Is it a hard job?
Cheers
Larry
I'm going to change my lower ball joints. There's no slack but the rubber protector is cracked on both, so I guess it's a good idea.
Do I need any special tools? Is it a hard job?
Cheers
Larry
(1996 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD LX with aircon)
Living in exile in Spain
Running on 100% veggie in summer
Living in exile in Spain
Running on 100% veggie in summer
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Re: Lower Ball Joints
Hi Larry.
Watch this youtube video, quite a few tools needed as it seems.
I'm having the lower ball joints and other things done as well end of November.
Watch this youtube video, quite a few tools needed as it seems.
I'm having the lower ball joints and other things done as well end of November.
Faz
90 Ax 1.0 Red
90 Bx 1.7 TZD Green
92 Bx Gti BRG
90 Bx 16v Cream
96 Xantia 2lt 16v Sx Olive green
01 Xantia 110 Hdi
Storm Grey (SOLD 4/11/18)
Temporarily driving Polo 1.9sdi
All I want is a Bx Gti or 16v!
90 Ax 1.0 Red
90 Bx 1.7 TZD Green
92 Bx Gti BRG
90 Bx 16v Cream
96 Xantia 2lt 16v Sx Olive green
01 Xantia 110 Hdi
Storm Grey (SOLD 4/11/18)
Temporarily driving Polo 1.9sdi
All I want is a Bx Gti or 16v!
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Re: Lower Ball Joints
When you next take a look at the ball joints also take a look at the heat shield, to see what condition it is in. If it looks very tatty you might want to replace them (they shield the ball joint from the heat generated by the brakes, so help keep the grease from drying out). You can still get them (I have in the last couple of months), and cost about £5 each.
EDIT; The part number for a Xantia ball joint heat shield is 3623 06.
EDIT; The part number for a Xantia ball joint heat shield is 3623 06.
Last edited by Hell Razor5543 on 18 Nov 2014, 09:17, edited 1 time in total.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
Re: Lower Ball Joints
if you do go for new ball joint it pays to have new heat shields to hand, even if they look ok as removing and refitting can be detrimental to them,
the other easier/less painful option as you say there is no obvious play, would be fit
https://www.google.co.uk/#tbm=shop&q=sw ... ter%2Fboot+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
the other easier/less painful option as you say there is no obvious play, would be fit
https://www.google.co.uk/#tbm=shop&q=sw ... ter%2Fboot+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Regards, malcolm.
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
- swiveleyedgit
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Re: Lower Ball Joints
I had a go at changing the offside ball joint last weekend, after buying the correct sockets. Things came to a standstill when I couldn't hold the hub assembly steady when applying pressure to the bloody great extension bar on the end of the socket. I know our friend in the video straps the hub to the chassis but I didn't have anything like that to hand, so rather than damaging the strut mounting I called it a day. It's got me thinking about making some sort of brace that could be bolted on between the hub and the subframe somewhere to hold everything steady, I don't have a decent workshop as we moved house last year and a new shed with a massive vice bolted to an equally massive bench isn't a priority at the moment so there's no point in taking the hub off the car. I've got a few bits of angle iron laying around though.......
Bob
Current Citroen
2004 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Auto
Current Citroen
2004 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Auto
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Re: Lower Ball Joints
When Malcolm (citronut) helped me with Gracie (well, he did the major hard work, I was really only the muscle) we had to remove the hub carrier to replace the ball joint. We also needed the heat from a blow torch, as (even using long scaffolding poles) we were unable to get the damn thing loose. However, I seem to recall Simon (Mandrake) mentioning him helping his Father with a ball joint, and they secured a long scaffolding pole to the hub (via the wheel bolts) to brace the hub, and that it was a two person job.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Re: Lower Ball Joints
Windy gun....http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=49938" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Richard W
Re: Lower Ball Joints
this would only be ok as long as the driveshaft/hub nut were still in place, otherwise you risk pulling the drive flange/wheel bearing apartHell Razor5543 wrote: I seem to recall Simon (Mandrake) mentioning him helping his Father with a ball joint, and they secured a long scaffolding pole to the hub (via the wheel bolts) to brace the hub, and that it was a two person job.
Regards, malcolm.
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
- swiveleyedgit
- Posts: 72
- Joined: 19 Sep 2014, 19:22
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Re: Lower Ball Joints
I can see I'm going to need the help of my friend, the aptly named 'fat Alan'.
Bob
Current Citroen
2004 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Auto
Current Citroen
2004 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Auto
Re: Lower Ball Joints
Well that was a f*kup. I finally managed to get both ball joints off, but in a moment of carelessness, thinking that the hub was correctly tethered- it wasnt, and the right hand drive shaft came out with its 3 rotor heads. To my bad luck one of the rollers came off and I was picking up tiny bearings in the dirt and off the subframe
I think I got them all- anyone know of any sure way of assuring yourself that the right number of bearings are in it?
I think I got them all- anyone know of any sure way of assuring yourself that the right number of bearings are in it?
(1996 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD LX with aircon)
Living in exile in Spain
Running on 100% veggie in summer
Living in exile in Spain
Running on 100% veggie in summer
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- Donor 2023
- Posts: 13743
- Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
- Location: Reading
- My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
- x 3007
Re: Lower Ball Joints
OUCH!
The simple way (make sure to do it over a clean surface) is to take one of the other rollers off and count the pins. I would also put some sort of protection over the area where the original roller came off, so that if there are any missing you should have a reasonable chance of finding them.
I am not sure what grease you will need to use, but I would guess it would be LM grease (deep grey, also known as CV grease).
The simple way (make sure to do it over a clean surface) is to take one of the other rollers off and count the pins. I would also put some sort of protection over the area where the original roller came off, so that if there are any missing you should have a reasonable chance of finding them.
I am not sure what grease you will need to use, but I would guess it would be LM grease (deep grey, also known as CV grease).
Last edited by Hell Razor5543 on 20 Nov 2014, 06:26, edited 1 time in total.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
Re: Lower Ball Joints
this used to be a common occurrence on citroens in the 80's, as they had nout to stop the triax bearings falling apart,
as James says carefully in controlled conditions count the needle rollers from one of the other two triax bearings,
then once your happy you have a full head count, clean and re/assemble with the likes of
http://tinyurl.com/ou92c58" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
as James says carefully in controlled conditions count the needle rollers from one of the other two triax bearings,
then once your happy you have a full head count, clean and re/assemble with the likes of
http://tinyurl.com/ou92c58" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Regards, malcolm.
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
Re: Lower Ball Joints
HI Thanks
Yeah, well I did put it back together yesterday- but in low light conditions. The needles seemed to have the same "slack" or movement when turning the ´"dropped" triax bearing as in the other two. I have Molybdenum Grease which I applied generously. However, doubts are circling in my mind- what if I missed one? Hence why I 'm thinking of taking it out carefully and counting to be 100% sure. But it's like opening up a can of worms
Yeah, well I did put it back together yesterday- but in low light conditions. The needles seemed to have the same "slack" or movement when turning the ´"dropped" triax bearing as in the other two. I have Molybdenum Grease which I applied generously. However, doubts are circling in my mind- what if I missed one? Hence why I 'm thinking of taking it out carefully and counting to be 100% sure. But it's like opening up a can of worms
(1996 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD LX with aircon)
Living in exile in Spain
Running on 100% veggie in summer
Living in exile in Spain
Running on 100% veggie in summer
Re: Lower Ball Joints
from what i'v seen most modern/later PSA triax bearings have a retaining device to stop then just dropping off whilst the triax is out of its cup,
obviously in your situation the triax that made a bid for freedom was under a lot of stress
obviously in your situation the triax that made a bid for freedom was under a lot of stress
Regards, malcolm.
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
-
- Donor 2023
- Posts: 13743
- Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
- Location: Reading
- My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
- x 3007
Re: Lower Ball Joints
If you are not sure, then a re-count is (realistically) the only way to be sure. I would make a thorough search of the area with good light (and, if it would work, a good magnet). It may feel like opening a cam of worms, but if you don't you will always have the niggle in the back of your head; "Is it going to fail?".
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!