Ball Joint -Lower
Ball Joint Lower Overhaul
Service tool: Steering joint taper separator JD 24.
Removing
- Jack up front of car and place stand beneath spring seat pan.
- Lower car to firmly locate on stand.
- Remove road wheel
- Remove self-locking nut and washer securing steering tie-rod ball joint (1).
- Separate rod from steering arm using service tool JD 24
- Cut locking wire (2). withdraw two set bolts and suspend caliper to prevent damage to hose.
- Remove two nuts (3) bolts and plain washers securing upper ball joint to upper wishbone levers
NOTE: Take careful note of fitted position of bolts and also position of packing piece and shims; these control castor angle.
- Support hub and stub axle carrier assembly and separate upper ball joint from upper wishbone.
- Remove self-locking nut (4) and washer and using service tool JD 24 separate lower ball joint from wishbone, withdraw assembly from car.
- Remove retaining ring and withdraw rubber gaiter (5).
- Withdraw retainer (6) from top of ball pin.
- Tap back tab washers (7) and unscrew four Setscrews securing ball pin cap to stub axle carrier
- Remove cap. shims, lower ball pin socket. ball pin and spigot (8)
Overhaul
- Clean and inspect all components.
CAUTION: In order to obtain correct adjustment of ball joint it is necessary to shim to correct clearance. Excessive wear on ball pin and sockets must not be adjusted by shims. Worn parts must be renewed.
- Fit spigot, ball pin. socket, shims. ball pin cap and screws.
- Remove shims one by one until the ball pin is tight in its socket with screws fully tightened.
- Remove screws. ball pin cap. shims and socket Add shims to the value of 0.10 mm to 0.15 mm (0.004 in to 0.006 in).
- Lightly grease ball pin and socket
- Refit socket, ball pin cap and new tab washers
- Refit and tighten screws.
- Ball pin should now be slightly Stiff in socket.
Refitting
CAUTION: Bolts securing upper ball joint in upper wishbone must be fitted from front of car towards rear.
- Reverse removal operations, fitting upper ball joint to stub axle carrier before securing it to the wishbone
- Tighten all nuts and bolts to correct torque.
- Check front wheel alignment. castor and camber angle.
Adjusting Ball Joint - Lower
Service tool: Steering joint taper separator JD 24
- Jack up front of car and place on stands.
- Remove front wheel[s].
- Place jack beneath front spring seat pan and raise sufficient to relieve stub axle carrier of spring pressure.
- Remove self-locking nut and washer [1] securing steering tie rod ball-joint.
- Separate tie-rod from steering arm using service tool JD 24.
- Lift hub and stub axle carrier assembly to reveal any free play in lower ball-joint.
- Bend back tab washers, remove four screws [2] securing ball pin cap to stub axle carrier.
- Detach ball pin cap, shims and socket from stub axle carrier.
- Clean and examine all parts for wear.
CAUTION: In order to obtain correct adjustment of ball joint it is necessary to shim to correct clearance. Excessive wear on ball pin and sockets must not be adjusted by shims. Worn parts must be renewed.
- Remove shims one by one until ball pin is tight in its socket with screws fully tightened.
NOTE: shims are available in 0.05 mm (0.002 in) and 0.10 mm (0.004 in) thicknesses.
- Remove screws. ball pin cap, shims and socket.
- Add shims to the value of 0.10 mm to 0.15 mm (0.004 in to 0.006 in).
- Lightly grease ball pin and socket.
- Refit socket ball pin cap and new tab washers.
- Refit and tighten screws [2] to correct torque figure.
When correctly adjusted. hub and stub axle carrier can be pivoted with a very slight drag. Turn up tab washers and charge joint with correct grease.
- Replace nut and washer [1] refit wheel[s] and lower car.
NOTE: The bolts securing the lower ball pin cap to the stub axle camber may on some vehicles be in a mixed condition. i.e. the head of the bolts are of different thicknesses 7.94 mm (0.3125 in) and 4.76 mm (0.1875 in).
The bolts with a head thickness of 7.94 mm (0.3125 in) are fitted on production to the inboard holes of the lower ball pin cap.
It is important that if any of these bolts are removed during service, they should be replaced in the correct position.
1. Inboard bolts - bead thickness 7.94 mm (0.3125 in)
2. Outboard boos - head thickness 4.76 mm (0.1875 in)