removing inner ball joint xantia

[Citroenmad]

Mine looks in pretty good shape, but thanks for the offer Kenny

[RichardW]

Chris,

If you've got the over the joint long tool, I would just unscrew it with the cover in place - on an Activa the joint is above the arm / subframe, and I couldn't see anyway to get in to pop the cover off (on an HDi 110) with the arm in place.

[Citroenmad]

That is the tool I have, I did wonder if it was possible to use the tool with the cover in place, I might give that a go. I did try to force the cover off but its stuck tight. I think its my fault as until then I thought it was going well and would be an easy job, nothing is though on an Activa

[Citroenmad]

I didn't think it would be an easy job and yet again it has defeated me.

Ive cut off the old rubber boot cover and have a new replacement to go on the new ball joint. However the tool I have to remove the ball joint will not grip as the ball joint will not go inside the tool far enough, as the tool hits on the steering rack.

Joy. Stumped.

[Citroenmad]

Ah, just found that the rubber boot I got from Citroen today is not the correct one, the hole is too small to go over the bar. I didn't think there would be different sizes, neither did the dealer ... Got the correct one on order now, hopefully.

Im abandoning it now, I'm going to book it in with the Citroen indy for next week to have the new inner ball joint fitted and also have the new radiator fitted too, ive not got the bottle to attempt that

Well ive wasted this far into the day trying to remove the ball joint on the Xantia, I might as well see how much I can break the C5 now while fitting its new track rod end Sounds easy, but I can bet it won't be

Looks like I'll be in the XM at the weekend then Best get it cleaned up, its a bit swirly!

[RichardW]

I too gave up on the inner joint, Chris, and the local mech only charged 1h labour, and that included tracking the car!

There is only 1 gaiter listed 406621 - but there are 2 diameters of track rod - 18 and 22mm - which suggests it's a tight fit on the cars with the larger rods (eg yours and mine!) - or it needs trimming to fit.

TRE should be easy, but they can catch you out. Tips:

Get the end moving in the arm before splitting the hub joint - they can be tight, and I have resorted to heating the arm before now to get it off.
Get the nut right off the joint, and only put it back finger tight before you break the taper - otherwise the nut gets stuck and you have to cut it off.
Measure off the face of the hub to the subframe with the steering locked, this will allow you to re-set the tracking afterwards.
A large pair of grips may be required to hold the taper in whilst you do the (new) nylok nut up - otherwise it goes round.

[Citroenmad]

Thanks Richard, Ill see what the next rubber boot is like when it turns up, I still have the other one as they dont return special order items

Yes, my Xantia will be going to the indy next week for them to sort it out and fit the rad too.

Im just trying to slacken off the lock nut on the TRE on the C5 now, its not budging at all. Ive tried a spanner, hitting the spanner with a large hammer, using stilson rench and a hammer, hitting the nut with a hammer and having a hammer under it. Its not budged at all, funny as its not in the slightest rusty on the underside and I did the tracking just about 3 months ago....

I dont have the room to get any length of prise bar in either, as its well in the wheel arch. I also couldn't get th car up high enough to use one underneith the car. I think ill have to resort to using heat.

The TRE on the Xantia came off very easily, I didn't think id have problems with the C5s The nut on the under side of the TRE ball joint is nice and free though.

I wonder if the garage who did the clutch has glued the lock nut in place Im pretty sure its due to them that the TRE has gone in the first place, as the rubber cover is not fitted properly, its just hanging off letting in moisture and dirt, which has worn the joint.

[Citroenmad]

Since my last post ive changed the TRE on the C5

I was about to try some heat, but that really did backfire, I think the heat gun is a bit old Flames were coming out of it from everywhere!

So I put a jack under the spanner on the lock nut and jacked up slightly, it soon came away. And now the new one is fitted and the tracking correct to how it was before.

Im pleased, I was feeling as if I couldn't achieve anything today

[KennyW]

Chris,

If you remove the rack itself you don't need any fancy tools to remove track rod

But I can understand if didn't wish to do it.

Kenny

[CitroJim]

John (Jgra1) and I have managed one inner balljoint using a set of 'Footprints' It was not very elegant and hard to get a good purchase on it.

The rubber boot does indeed have a very small hole but it's stretchy enough...

[Citroenmad]

Thanks Jim, good to kno the boot might be the right one, guess I'll have two soon

It does look far too small, about half the size of the hole in the old one, so I thought it must be wrong. Never mind.

The C5 is perfect again now, no more rattling over bumps, and I do hate steering rattles. Ive just been out for an hour or so practicing for my first advanced driving observation in it, which is possibly this Saturday. My economy (well, range until empty) has shot up in that hour, clearly my driving changes a lot