Ball Joints

[burrellbloke]

My car is at the garage today for an MOT. It has just failed on one of the drivers side ball joints.

The car does not need to be fixed immediately as I have access to another car.

If the work is being done is it worth getting the upper and lower ball joints on both sides replaced?

Also, should I be careful about the replacement ball joint that the garage uses?

 

[RSRowe]

There's no need to do both sides, but people generally do as it's nothing to worry about then for a while. I did mine side by side - even though ultimately i could of just got away replacing the one swivel which was bad.

Personally I'd buy the joints off eBay, and give them to whatever garage you take it to.

 

[burrellbloke]

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[bedoef]

Definitely do one complete side (upper, lower, swivel), and I would advise to do both sides, since if one side is going bad the other will be on its way in the next year or so possibly. Plus, fresh on one side and tired on the other will change a little how the car feels when driving.

 

[PITA]

I changed all 6 to Rene’s (@Raptor6767)ball joints, worth doing properly if you’re doing it

 

[burrellbloke]

My plan at the moment is to replace the one ball joint, then later in the year upgrade all of the ball joints, poly bush the rest of the car, and get some coilovers. A whole refresh should make the car feel a bit snapper - even though I probably could not tell the difference as I had no idea the ball joint needed to be replaced.

 

[suj]

My plan at the moment is to replace the one ball joint, then later in the year upgrade all of the ball joints, poly bush the rest of the car, and get some coilovers. A whole refresh should make the car feel a bit snapper - even though I probably could not tell the difference as I had no idea the ball joint needed to be replaced.

It would be false economy to only change one ball joint, as you will have to then take it all apart to do them all, stripped down to then press out.
I would just do both of them on that side, then do other side when you do decide to go coilovers.

 

[burrellbloke]

I see the logic but the garage doing the work is a local non-specialist garage. They are not going to use a premium ball joint like Rene's. It will cost more the way I am thinking of doing it but ultimately I would prefer to refresh the whole set up with better products.

 

[RSRowe]

There’s nowt wrong with the OE replacement joints.

If your balljoint has failed, replace it.
If one of your swivels has failed, replace them both.

 

[bedoef]

It would be false economy to only change one ball joint, as you will have to then take it all apart to do them all, stripped down to then press out.
I would just do both of them on that side, then do other side when you do decide to go coilovers.

100000% agree with this. You will be paying 2x for labor, and risking damaging new parts the next time you pull your suspension apart.

 

[burrellbloke]

Change of plan - all three ball joints are being done and replaced with genuine Renault parts now.