Loose Bottom Bracket Ball Joint

[Guest yaztromo]

I started noticing my steering wheel turns right slightly when I accelerate, although the car goes straight forward. If I hold the steering wheel straight the car just veers to the left.

 

So I was hunting around with the wheels off when I noticed there is a lot of play between the bottom bracket and the hub. So I split the ball joint and put it back in, but still no luck. I ended up tightening the clamp bolt up so much to try and stop the play that it eventually sheared.

 

Do I replace the bottom bracket or is the socket for the ball joint worn? How can I tell? I can't see any obvious wear on either.

[hengti 2]

it's usually the balljoint that wears; weird that you didn't notice any play in it though - it's usually obvious - you can move the pin up and down in the balljoint cup

 

maybe it's the inner bushes?

 

edit : can the pin wear where the bolt holds it in? probably best just to renew the arm anyway - they come with new inner bushes, new balljoint and new pin - about £50 from gsf/eurocarparts etc

Edited April 23, 2006 by hengti

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

If the car veers when you accelerate & again but the opposite way when you come off the power it is the inner bushes that have worn & are moving. (usually the back one iirc).

 

Always replace the bolt through the hub when you change the balljoint though, these also wear & eventually the hub will oval & need replacing.

 

Graham.

[Guest yaztromo]

it's usually the balljoint that wears; weird that you didn't notice any play in it though - it's usually obvious - you can move the pin up and down in the balljoint cup

 

Yes this is what happens. I'll start with a new bottom arm since they are not so expensive and then replace the hub if that doesn't work.

 

Thanks for the replys

Edited April 23, 2006 by yaztromo

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

I've heard that ovalised hubs can occur if the bottom bolt wasn't tight enough so even with the bolt tighten the ball joint pin can still have some movement which means the only option is a new hub.

[willxs 0]

If the car veers when you accelerate & again but the opposite way when you come off the power it is the inner bushes that have worn & are moving. (usually the back one iirc).

 

 

is that what there called? gona be replacing these on mine soon hopefully, anyone got any part numbers or prices?

 

 

Cheers will

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

As Graham says its generally the bushes on the wishbones that cause the car to wonder, generally if the ball joints are gone they knock. Best to replace the wishbones in pairs imo as tightening up one side of the suspension only exagerates any play on the other, they are around £45-50 each.

[willxs 0]

i was just interested in the bushes mainly and if there are any uprated ones. its a shame how the wishbones and ball joints are all one unit and you cant get the bolt on ball joints like you do on the 306 etc...