Ball Joints or wishbones

[Gazza]

Hi folks,

I know there have been several threads on this topic and I have also looked on cliosport. I had been thinking I would get new ball joints without the wishbone and fit them to my trophy and at the same time fit uprated poly bushes to the wishbone. After reading on cliosport the polyflex wishbone bushes need to be tac welded in place I am beginning to think the better choice might be to just replace the whole wishbone which I believe comes with standard bushes.

My handling seems to have deteriorated since I had my damper re furb some time ago and is more crashy and when changing lanes at high speed on the motorway for example, feels very twitchy.

Any opinions on what's best to do? Have read the ball joints can be tricky to remove from the wishbone...

Part numbers if anyone has them might be handy to?

Cheers

G

 

[j333evo]

I did the balljoints on my friends 172 last wkend & even though his car has covered 96,000miles came off with a little effort.

On removal one was very tired, but other was not bad, the wishbone bushes had no play in them & car feels very tight now after fitting & the clunk he was getting before has gone as his 2 sessions at Castle Combe proved.

His car has done well over 100 laps of CC over last few years so probably gets more abuse than most.

I did mine about a year ago at 32k as a precaution as tbh didn't realky need it. I purchased from my local car factors fir about £8 each, he had in stock 2 sizes listed 10 & 12mm I bought the bigger size & was correct. My friend bought his from a Renault specialist & was assured the ones sent would fit, they were 10mm & didn't but nothing a drill didn't fix & reuse of the original nuts bolts didn't solve.

 

[eljeffo64]

I changed the lot recently, only because I got a deal on some wishbones; even then the ball joint end was a moose to remove. On your point re being twitchy- did you have your geo checked after refitting the rebuilt shox? A must do (one of my constant observations) ditto after the ball joint or wishbone refit.

 

[hoolio]

I was just about to post the same thing (actually did it earlier but clearly didn't register) it wouldn't necessarily account for the crashyness but I'm not sure changing those parts will either.

 

[eljeffo64]

Agree, crashyness (bad word) could be top mounts or arb mounts?? My crashyness went after the shock refurb (I've got STM's and thought they were to blame, but no).

 

[Gazza]

Thanks for the input, alignment was done the day after I refitted the dampers by Mark fish. Was fine for a while but seems to be gradually getting worse and I have lost confidence in pushing the car now. Seeing as I have done 70k now and not changed them I thought it might be time. Comments from others I have read after changing the ball joints say it has tightened up the car and made the turn in sharp and like new again...

ARB bushes looked a little warn when I checked but couldn't see them all without removing the wheels.

Hadn't thought about the top mounts. Are there any visual signs for these going? I take it you replace the rubber upper part and the bit between the damper and the car?

*Are the trophy top mounts different to a standard 182?

 

[Rhod.L15]

What you're describing here Gazza is virtually word for word how I'd describe my situation. The handling feels almost as bad after the damper refurb than it did beforehand and I've lost all confidence when cornering.

I did notice an improvement in turn-in after changing the ball joints, but that didn't solve the crashiness or the twitchy feeling I get through the steering.

Ben @ BGM has suggested changing the track rods and inboard wishbone bushes as a potential solution.

 

[Gazza]

What you're describing here Gazza is virtually word for word how I'd describe my situation. The handling feels almost as bad after the damper refurb than it did beforehand and I've lost all confidence when cornering.

I did notice an improvement in turn-in after changing the ball joints, but that didn't solve the crashiness or the twitchy feeling I get through the steering.

Ben @ BGM has suggested changing the track rods and inboard wishbone bushes as a potential solution.

Ah okay, was hoping this would be a simple fix. Was planning on changing the oil soon, so will do that and have a good look under the car before proceeding any further. Had thought I would replace ball joints at the same time but unsure now.

 

[Gazza]

Rhod: I am not sure we have exactly the same problem after thinking on this as although it feels crashy and a bit wobbly the steering still feels okay and isnt pulling off line or anything which makes me think alignment and track rods would be fine. Wondering if it could be a broken spring or shot rear damper now.... Car does look a little low at the back

 

[Rhod.L15]

Mine isn't pulling off line either mate but I am experiencing major crashiness and wobbling as you describe it.

I also thought a broken spring, but they looked fine when I put them back on a few weeks ago.

 

[Gazza]

So, its been a while since I updated this thread. As mentioned above I had a handling problem which I thought was due to warn ball joints or bushes. The problem got considerably worse so I decided to take the car to Mark fish and get him to look at it.

It turns out that it was down to the dampers. I had really ignored the fact that it could be the front dampers for the following reasons;
They were serviced under a year ago
There were no signs of leaking
A gap was present between the body and reservoir (which is supposed to be a sign of gas pressure)

So Mark sent them to BG and they found small cracks in the reservoir which has allowed the gas to escape. Turns out one of the rears also needed replacing. Should get the car back tomorrow with serviced front dampers and koni sports on the rear.

Cant wait to have it back feeling good again!

 

[Sam_K]

Oh bloody hell! how comes they did not pick this up when they were refurbed first time round?

 

[Gazza]

Oh bloody hell! how comes they did not pick this up when they were refurbed first time round?

Not sure how it happened to be honest but BG have been very good and replaced the cracked parts and serviced them under warranty. Mark fish has also been excellent! Very happy with the service he has provided me with.

Picked up the car last night from Mark. He was still tweaking the setup slightly when I arrived and was out on a road test. He told me I would be very happy with the new setup of Koni's on the rear and running a little harder. Boy was he right, so happy. Ended up driving the long way home

 

[stormduck]

Nice one fella, sounds good. I'm tempted to take mine to Mark once mine's back on the road with the adjustable konis and serviced sachs...new balljoints, track rod ends, solid mounts, poly arb bushes and poly wishbone bushes...crickey i'm skint!

 

[Gazza]

Nice one fella, sounds good. I'm tempted to take mine to Mark once mine's back on the road with the adjustable konis and serviced sachs...new balljoints, track rod ends, solid mounts, poly arb bushes and poly wishbone bushes...crickey i'm skint!

Wow that some list... Im broke after my short list. Good job, I need to get my bodywork sorted next

 

[stormduck]

my savings for the last year gone! Funny you should say that coz mine will be booked in to bodyshop after all this work :shock: