Snapped wishbone ball joint

[Bedfordrl]

Luckily as we were turning onto the road there was a bang and this was why.

As you can see the casting appears to be flawed,not good!!.

The old girl has done 180,000 miles but this does not appear to be fatigue .

 

[Cole@MBS]

Thats more common than you might think!!!

 

[television]

Hello and welcome, if the ball joint was rusty inside and I am sure that I can see the rust in the picture, inside the joint then they will break, there must have been a creaking when turning the steering.

Very nice picture and welcome to the forum


Its dead easy to fix, and do the other side before it breaks

 

[Cole@MBS]

Thats how everyone iv seen goes Malc, as you say, the center is rusty, only the outer clean part was holding it together!

 

[television]

Yes we have had many go this year on the forum, all of the rain maybe plus the age

 

[Bedfordrl]

Thanks for your replies.
I have had a quote for £90 for a new wishbone or £45 for a second-hand one.

New is probably better methinks.

 

[Cole@MBS]

As malc quiet rightly said, change the pair, i have seen the wheel come back and fold the wing up before, that then causes more problems and money!!

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>As you can see the casting appears to be flawed

I don't see any evidence of a faulty metal in the piccie, and I would be truly shocked if ball joints were cast. The cup & cone in the centre is the final ductile failure when the spring load finally overcomes the remaining metal area.

Why not just press in a new balljoint - they're £13.

 

[television]

>>As you can see the casting appears to be flawed

I don't see any evidence of a faulty metal in the piccie, and I would be truly shocked if ball joints were cast. The cup & cone in the centre is the final ductile failure when the spring load finally overcomes the remaining metal area.

Why not just press in a new balljoint - they're £13.

I saw the kits were available but not sure that this was still done, there are repair kits listed on the EPC

 

[Number_Cruncher]

Yes, I did one side of mine a few weekends ago - it was squeaking as I turned the wheel at low speed. Weather and SWMBO permitting, I'll press a new one into the other side this weekend.

Edit - I should also mention that if you fit new wishbones, as the bolts are eccentric, you'll need to pay for the suspension to be realigned - whereas if you press in a new ball joint, you can avoid this.

 

[Bedfordrl]

How then can i get the old ball out of the joint?
If i could get it out this would save a lot of bother.

 

[television]

On a press,the bits are all here, you have to take the control arm off

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...+++717.412&CT=F&cat=506&SID=33&SGR=030&SGN=01

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>you have to take the control arm off

I did mine in-situ - you don't need to take the arm off.

 

[Uncle Benz]

I think what happens is the ball itself seizes, and the action of turning the wheel snaps the steel pin. You would be suprised how much leverage that big old MB steering wheel gives you. The little cone in the centre suggests a twisting failure...

Remove the wishbones and take them, along with new balljoints to any decent garage with a hydraulic press. They should press out the old ones and pop in the new for the price of about 4 pints of beer. I would do them for you if you are close enough...

 

[Bolide]

I think what happens is the ball itself seizes, and the action of turning the wheel snaps the steel pin. You would be suprised how much leverage that big old MB steering wheel gives you. The little cone in the centre suggests a twisting failure...

That's what it looks like to me too

I recommend replacing them at 175k or 15 years, whichever comes first. £13 each isn't going to bankrupt anyone

Sports Chassis 320 owners look away now: you have non-replaceable balljoints and your wishbones are expensive

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Number_Cruncher]

Yes, I think that most of the crack growth around the outer edges is driven by torsion loads from the steering, but, the final failure in the centre looks more like a ductile tensile failure to me - the characteristic cup & cone pattern, see;

http://www.sv.vt.edu/classes/MSE2094_NoteBook/97ClassProj/exper/bailey/www/bailey.html

 

[Bedfordrl]

Well i have had another look at the ball joint,or what is left of it,and what i presumed was a solid back to the ball joint itself is in fact the seized ball.

Now i understand what you are all on about.

 

[television]

The last thing that we want is balls up

 

[roofless]

this is a good link for diy but i would use a indie http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W124BallJoint

 

[television]

this is a good link for diy but i would use a indie http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W124BallJoint

First class thank you