Ball Joint and Handbrake cable

1. AzzNoble L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 76 2002 VTR

   #1 7th July 2012, 14:20

   Right guys, this is two separate issues.
   
   1. I have a squeaky sound when I set off or deccelerate, coming from the front and it definitely seems like a suspension issue. I was told a couple of weeks ago whilst getting my wheel bearing sorted that my ball joint could be on its way out. Could this be the cause of the squeaking and also is it a difficult job to do?
   
   2. Last month I needed a new rear axle to pass my MOT and when I drove the car out of the garage there was a continuous knocking noise. The bell end had left my handbrake cable loose and it was catching on my left read wheel. I tied it up to prevent this and today I had a go at tidying it up and clipping it where it should be but then the other side starts knocking, so I've had to leave it loose. Is it safe to just cable tie it up? Or if there's any better advice then please share it.
   
   Thanks in advance.
2. AzzNoble L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 76 2002 VTR

   #2 7th July 2012, 19:05

   Anyone?
3. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

   #3 7th July 2012, 19:17

   1. Will probably work out cheaper to buy a bottom arm and replace it, but you can just change the ball joint. Depends how much the garage want to charge to press a new one in.
   2. I presume you are talking about where the cable runs along the trailing arm and down to the caliper? If so yes you can just cable tie them both in place of where the clips usually are.
   
   
4. AzzNoble L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 76 2002 VTR

   #4 7th July 2012, 19:41

   Thanks mate. I'll try that in the morning. Won't be using that garage again. Will get a few quotes on the ball joint and if not i'll replace the bottom arm instead. Thanks again.
5. user_32315 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Uppingham, Rutland Posts: 9569 mk1 JP4'd VTR, '16 Fabia Monte Carlo

   #5 7th July 2012, 19:46

   If you pay for a garage to change a ball joint will be cheaper to buy new arms BUT if you take 20min and take the arm off your self and spend £10 (each) on a ball joint then a garage will charge hardly anything to press the old one out and the new one in, i got two done they only asked for a fiver but i gave him a tenner felt bad giving him a fiver lol so cost me £30 in total to do mine, could've cost me as little as £25 if i only gave him £5
6. AzzNoble L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 76 2002 VTR

   #6 8th July 2012, 13:21

   Thanks for that mate, i'll bear that in mind, just the kind of advice i was after