Bottom ball joint heat shield.

Post by **user_3150** » 12 Oct 2006, 19:45

Does it need to be refitted when putting new bottom balljoints on. The original will not go back on for love nor money. I have got a price for a new one but can't begin to think of the hassle I will have trying to fit it. I did the other side last summer and still get flashbacks. For now I have left it off as we need the car on a daily basis. Would it be possible to leave it off? You ideas and thoughts greatly appreciated.

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 12 Oct 2006, 19:46

Bin it, i wouldnt even waste any time on it.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 12 Oct 2006, 20:10

Its there for a reason : to avoid the balljoint being boiled out from the brakes heat. You wont know until MOT finds clearance again in the balljoint.

If you dont have a really good balljoint separator tool - one of those that dont damage the rubber bellow - then :
Support the joint bolt end on something solid : build up a stable support using wood or bricks, then place a piece of heavy steel (at least 6mm thickness) directly under the bolt end. Protect the threads by winding on a nut from the old joint to the start of the bolt threads.

Now release all your aggressions onto to the lower control arm using a big hammer or mallet.
The shield is simply tapped into place.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 12 Oct 2006, 23:43

i agree with Anders you should refit a heat shield,all you need to do to fit it is split the lower swivel slot the new shield on and peen it at several points into the slot all the way around the swivel joint,the easyes way to split the swivel from the arm is undo the nut to the very last couple of threads so it winds by finger,no whack the side of the eye at the end of the arm,i use this method all the time
regards malcolm

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 13 Oct 2006, 00:02

Mine have been gone for years......if the brakes were generating enough heat to boil the balljoint grease you'd be having serious brake problems, like fire!

Interestingly, Citroen don't call them heatshields-I'm not exactly sure what their purpose is, but I doubt it's there as a heatshield.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 13 Oct 2006, 08:27

it must be a heat shield,if it were for any other purpose it would go all the way around the lower swivel,and front discs do produce a lot of heat even when working corectly
regards malcolm

Post by **user_3150** » 13 Oct 2006, 19:53

Thanks for the replies. Although it's a 50/50 split at the moment. I bought a new shield today so I will give it a try over the weekend. But if no success I don't think I will be overly worried.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 13 Oct 2006, 20:10

For a BX the official description seems to be - 'Guard - sheet metal'

Trust that further confuses the matter.

Mandrake · Post by **Mandrake** » 13 Oct 2006, 20:20

Surely it's not a good idea to leave something like that out, regardless of what it might do ? I know if it was me I wouldn't want to be deliberately leaving something out which might or might not cause unnecessary problems somewhere down the track....usually that kind of thing comes back to bite you at a later date!

Regards,
Simon

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 13 Oct 2006, 20:49

I agree - it must be there for a purpose. Somebody made it, its carried as spares and seems to be a feature of a number of models - which means its unlikely to be a bit of eccentric thinking on by one designer.

Post by **user_3150** » 14 Oct 2006, 21:57

Seems I may have opened a can of worms sorry. I tried to get it on today but it was impossible. I may have a go tommorrow but I think |I need another sheild as I have butchered it a bit. I must be honest it's getting a bit stressfull trying to get it on. I do remember doing the other side last year and it drove me mad, the balljoint has been a walk in the park as they say, but this sheild aarrggghhh.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 14 Oct 2006, 23:03

usualy with a new shield gose on very easy,then all you do is peen it in several places into the slot around the body of the swivel joint
regards malcolm

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 15 Oct 2006, 00:16

Alec - remove the brake disc on your next attempt ...

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 15 Oct 2006, 10:10

AndersDK wrote:Alec - remove the brake disc on your next attempt ...

Anders
the only thing with that is the side of the shield which faces the disc is not
peened,so i dont thing this will help
regards malcolm

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 15 Oct 2006, 10:23

Alec wrote:I tried to get it on today but it was impossible. I may have a go tommorrow .

Forget about it then,dont give yourself the hassle & stress

Iv never re-fitted one & iv never had a problem.