Possible to replace ball joint separate from arm? CLK

[horatio]

Long shot but is it possible to replace the ball joint separate from the lower front control arm (“cross strut”) on a 203/209?

I know it’s replaced as a whole arm but an annoying situation here. Car failed mot due to “excessive play” in said ball joint. They replaced the arm and did full alignment.

They’ve obviously fitted a cheap nasty arm and it’s creaking already. I replaced all the front arms with lemforders a few years ago, a pothole must have finished damaged it rather than general wear.

CBA going through the hassle of replacing the arm again and having the alignment done yet again…

Plus WiM are gone and this mot garage is the only other place I know of who can do a reasonable alignment so I’m not going to argue it. If they agree to fix they would probably just screw it up again anyway.

Cheers!

 

[Wighty]

If the ball joint has failed , the big rubber bush thingy at the other end isn’t going to be in top health either .

 

[horatio]

Yep it’s a brand new arm though, it’s just the cheapo ball joint part of the arm itself that’s creaking.

Otherwise I’ll end up just buying two front OEM arms and paying alignment again. All in all that ****** ball joint will end up costing me over £500 FFS!

The second I let any mechanic other than an Indy touch my car, even with a job a monkey could do… GRR!

 

[Wighty]

Yep it’s a brand new arm though, it’s just the cheapo ball joint part of the arm itself that’s creaking.

Otherwise I’ll end up just buying two front OEM arms and paying alignment again. All in all that ****** ball joint will end up costing me over £500 FFS!

The second I let any mechanic other than an Indy touch my car, even with a job a monkey could do… GRR!

I feel your pain buddy

 

[mioba]

We all live and learn, dont stress. Most indies use genuine parts or top end OEM.
I always insist my indy buys genuine. Over the years I found less issues with fitment, and since I keep my cars, I have the mantra if the originals lasted xyz, they cant be bad.

 

[LostKiwi]

Depends on the arm.

 

[horatio]

Depends on the arm.

 

[horatio]

^^ That is the arm in question. Although if it is possible to replace the ball joint, you would surely have to remove the arm which would defeat the purpose of avoiding alignment again?

Driving the car to Cornwall so hopefully it holds up. Forced it with a crow bar, it seems sturdy.

Resigned to DIY’ing it.

 

[horatio]

We all live and learn, dont stress. Most indies use genuine parts or top end OEM.
I always insist my indy buys genuine. Over the years I found less issues with fitment, and since I keep my cars, I have the mantra if the originals lasted xyz, they cant be bad.

Trouble is I don’t learn! I’m OCD about using OEM parts as this happens literally every time. Some folks seem to get away with aftermarket parts, I do not.

This caught me out as I couldn’t be bothered with a retest. I figured the garage would at least use a half decent part like Febi given it would probably cost no more than a tenner more. Wrong.

 

[LostKiwi]

That's not replaceable.
In order to be replaceable you need access to the back of the ball joint for the press to press it out. That looks like a solid cup.

 

[rayhennig]

use a half decent part like Febi

Half decent is often the best you can expect from Febi. I have Febi flex discs and they are made by SGF and thus of good quality. However, Febi parts can be of dubious quality as has been reported often on these forums.

Febi is a lottery that only the DIYers should play. If you're paying to have parts installed, or if they are critical such as internal engine parts(?), then get quality parts.

My 2c worth.

RayH

 

[LostKiwi]

My general rule of thumb is the more critical the part or harder to replace the more likely I am to use genuine.

 

[rayhennig]

My general rule of thumb is the more critical the part or harder to replace the more likely I am to use genuine.

I should coco.

R

 

[Wighty]

How much are Lemforder ?

 

[horatio]

Half decent is often the best you can expect from Febi. I have Febi flex discs and they are made by SGF and thus of good quality. However, Febi parts can be of dubious quality as has been reported often on these forums.

I know they just re-box and are a lucky dip… but IME even the crappier Febi parts aren’t *truly* shocking eBay specials. More wear out after 6 months crap than by the end of the road crap!

Drove about 800 miles in the car this week and bizarrely the creak has gone. Maybe it has ground a rough edge down? I’ll see if it lasts to the next MOT, replace both sides and align again.