Wishbone ball joints - removal and replace

  1. Forum Section Moderator Joined: Aug 2006 Westgate on Sea/Bexley Posts: 17223 Series 1 Rallye
    #1
    As title,

    My vts recently failed it's mot on wishbone rear bushes and track rod end ball joint.

    I have bought some wishbones with uprated vibratechnics rear mounts and black shore bushes but the ball joints have a slight tear.

    How do I go about changing the ball joints?

    Also on mot fail it said track rod end balljoints, are these the ones in the wishbone or are there ball joints on the track rod ends too?

    Thanks for your help.
  2. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2011 Bradford on Avon,Nr Bath Posts: 866 '01 astra coupe
    #2
    Wishbone ball joints will need to be pressed out and back in, there also ball joints on track rod ends think there about a tenner for each side, these have a ball joint that is bolted to front strut and a screw thread on steering rack
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  3. Established Member Joined: Sep 2010 loughborough Posts: 2229 1988 ford fiesta mk2 1.4- 2001 black saxo furio (d
    #3
    track rod ends are the ends of the steering rack, these will need replacing ot that side it has failed on atleast.

    as for the ball joint as above it'll need pressing out and back in and is a right game lol
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2011 Bradford on Avon,Nr Bath Posts: 866 '01 astra coupe
    #4
    If you do the track rod ends yourself mark up where they are now before removing the old ones as these are used to adjust your tracking so if you don't get them back to original position the tracking will be out
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2008 ..... Posts: 5231 ..............
    #5
    ive removed and replaced a balljoint(previously)
    with a big hammer and a socket and a blowtorch

    if u remove the balljoint(easier than getting it back in)
    it will cost you about 10 for a garage to press it back in for you.(for two)
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI
    #6
    I needed my car back on the road asap so I just bought a couple of 2nd hand wishbones from Mandyslover for like £40 (I think) and swapped them over
  7. Established Member Joined: May 2010 leicester Posts: 1446 Clio 182 Inferno
    #7
    Why mess around pressing a ball joint in? just buy a complete wishbone, it might cost a little more but you get a whole new arm with rear bush and balljoint, its quicker and easier tbh. With regards to the comment above....Be carefeful heating up ball joints, i watched a lad heat a ball joint on a landrover and it went with a bang and the balljoint shot out the socket like a bullet, we never found the balljoint