Lower ball joint replacement DIY

Heppy997

Heppy997

Paid Member
right lads looking for a bit of advice off anyone who has replaced the lower ball joint on a 197/200 themselves. Attempted it today but it's bloody slow as the cars 10 year old and don't thing the suspension has ever been touched, so naturally I've ended up having to cut or drill most bolts out.

Anyway I'm just trying to figure out what needs to come off/bolts to undo to get access to the joint. Also, do you press it out the hub in situ or is it best to remove the whole hub?

Thanks
Ali
 
Outer hub has to come off, drive shaft also needs to be out of the way as you need a decent balljoint splitter to split the upper ball joint.

I'm not sure how easy it is with standard suspension, as there's a lot more droop, but ideally it's probably easier to remove the entire hub and split the upper ball joint on the bench. Then you have access to press the lower swivel out of the outer hub.


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Yeah, that makes sense. I will give it a try tomorrow. I was trying to undo the three bolts holding the pinch bolt unit (?) to the outer hub, but I only managed to get one out as they're very awkward to get at
 
Are the ball joints available as a separate part in the UK. Here in Australia, they're no....so you have to buy a complete lower control arm. I know this as I just replaced mine...but luckily, it was covered by the extended warranty insurance policy that came with the car.
 
Timbo said:
Are the ball joints available as a separate part in the UK. Here in Australia, they're no....so you have to buy a complete lower control arm. I know this as I just replaced mine...but luckily, it was covered by the extended warranty insurance policy that came with the car.
Click to expand...

Of course.

Clio-197-kugle-prodaja.jpg
 
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is it possible to just undo the top mount bolts and remove the whole thing? as I've had another look today and can't remove the ball joint on the lower control arm to the bottom of the hub. it just wont budge

doesn't help that literally every bolt i go to just rounds off lol
 
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Heppy997 said:
is it possible to just undo the top mount bolts and remove the whole thing? as I've had another look today and can't remove the ball joint on the lower control arm to the bottom of the hub. it just wont budge

doesn't help that literally every bolt i go to just rounds off lol
Click to expand...

try and use single hex sockets - the ones normally used on power tools
 
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Heppy997 said:
is it possible to just undo the top mount bolts and remove the whole thing? as I've had another look today and can't remove the ball joint on the lower control arm to the bottom of the hub. it just wont budge

doesn't help that literally every bolt i go to just rounds off lol
Click to expand...

You need large balljoint splitters. You could spend all day whacking them, just damaging expensive parts. Take yourself down to machine mart and get the tools


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Heppy997 said:
is it possible to just undo the top mount bolts and remove the whole thing? as I've had another look today and can't remove the ball joint on the lower control arm to the bottom of the hub. it just wont budge

doesn't help that literally every bolt i go to just rounds off lol
Click to expand...

A good solid hit with a hammer normally splits it. Just done my meg 250 and the offside needed a bit of heat to get it split (was very careful not to warm up the lower arm ball joint).
 
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Cheers lads managed to get it swapped, the ball joint itself is a piece of piss it's all the knackered bolts which you have to tackle before it!

Now I've just the pinch bolt which needs drilling out then onto the next side
 
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