197 Ball Joint and Flexi Pipe

[Dirty]

Hi all,

Just had my car fail its MOT on a ball joint and flexi pipe being split and have been quoted by my mechanic around £1500 in parts since they are supposedly dealer only.

They said for the ball joint it would need the whole wishbone and the flexi would need the whole manifold. I feel like these can't be right but I probably don't know enough about it.

Can anyone advise on how to bring the price of this down at all?

Thanks

 

[suj]

Nope they are not your only options, there are loads about.

So there are companies like Aaron Autos that do drive each side ball joint for £175 all in:
http://www.aaronsautos.co.uk/services-derby/clio-197-ball-joint/

Most exhaust places can replace your flexis for a couple of hundred quid, so alone that is a third of what you have been quoted for new bits.

Where are you from?

 

[shogun]

Lower ball joint (attached to wishbone ) can be purchased separately for around £50 and then fitted.

Manifold flexis can also be welded in but means lowering the subframe. Otherwise you could fit an aftermarket Toyo sports manifold for around £200 (parts only) .

Where abouts are you located as could recommend you someone to do the work? I reckon £500 all in if you go down this route.

 

[Dirty]

Thank for the replies!
I'm in Merseyside, ideally wouldn't want to drive much over an hour to get it sorted if it's possible

 

[matt9566]

As above, there are plenty of options -

I paid £150 ish per side for my ball joints replaced including parts and labour.

I've just been quoted £180 for 2 new flexis welding in (might as well do both at the same time so you know they're both new) then £100 for fitting so £280 in total.

That's £430 all in, so definitely shop around - as mentioned above, anything around the £500 mark would be reasonable.

 

[shogun]

Any idea if he pointed to number one or number two in picture? If so the bottom one is alot easier...

 

[turkie172]

Dirty if you join the forum it's £5 there is a how to section with how to drop the sub frame I've changed the manifold in mine myself when I saw the guide the risks are high if your not aware of potential problems around the airbag spring and moving the steering rack and steering wheel wile they are disconnected ball joints can be done at the same time so saving on work time. Your real problem will not be apparent but it will be why the flexi broke from two things the engine mounts allowing movement or someone being rough with the exhaust pulling on it while changing something not aware if the movement at the other end. If the cause of the flexi problem is not addressed the replacement or repair of the manifold it will fail again. I bought a manifold cheap at the start ready for this to happen so I would not be without the car from starting to see the braids fray and changing the mounts it took 3 years to blow out and need changed. Now time is not on your side due to MOT so the Toyo may be cheap but costs the same to fit and will probably need mapped after because it does not have the first stage CAT in it (possible flat spot in performance), get a used one in good nick or get it repaired and you can then check the work and pick the best guy for it. Just had my old now spare one fixed by an exhaust specialist as a spare time no hurry job and I must say it's one of the best welding jobs I've seen on a repaired manifold.

 

[Pav]

since you are not that far from me try giving my man a call..sure he could sort you out...
http://www.clio197.net/threads/park-street-motors-ltd.56864/

 

[APM]

We have plenty of Genuine Renault RS ball joints on the shelf of all 3 types and also 1 used exhaust manifold left. If we can help let me know.
All can be sent out same day, be with you next day.