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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2006 20:49:06 GMT
My 1973 Coupe has just failed its MOT on play in the bottom ball joints. Mileage is 75000 and I have jacked it up but all seems tight on the wheels - Is there a way to check for play before I tackle the torsion bars!
Wadhams does not seem to stock the ball joints or am I looking in the wrong olace - it has been one of those days!!!
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 6, 2006 22:09:45 GMT
Bad luck
Its very unusual for these to go at this mileage - if properly looked after they should last 3 times as long easily. Both going at the same time is even more rare.
Do you know any history? Are the dust seals OK. It may be worth getting a second opinion although with the new MOT someone has to stick their neck out. Ask the tester to demonstrate the slack - I have seen them really bad so it should be apparent.
They can be visually checked for looseness/rust after disconnecting the bottom link from the stub axle if you know how the torsion bars work. Beware though if you are not confident leave it to someone who has done this before as undoing the wrong bit could be fatal!
New ones are available at a steep price and they can be reconditioned. Someone was selling these at a rally last year?
David Green wll no doubt have some good secondhand ones
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2006 22:37:39 GMT
Many thanks Phil - I did not have confidence in the MOT guy but with the new MOT I guess defects are centrally logged at Swansea.
It's a bit of a puzzle as the dust seals are intact and the joints are sealed for life. I have had the car for 15 years so I believe the mileage is genuine.
Again thanks for the advice as I don't remember it being mentioned in Take Five. Tomorrow's another day!!
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 6, 2006 22:52:01 GMT
Sealed for life does not mean long life - but you really need to check these out before spending on new ones - as you say the problem has now been logged so you have to get it sorted or the comment withdrawn.
Was the MOT tester familier with P5's.
I do not recall anything in Take 5 either although I do know a number of members who have replaced/reconditioned them.
To test with a long pry-bar you need to jack up underneath the radius arm so that the wheel is off the ground and then lever the wheel up and watch for any movement in the joint.
Slack/worn wheel bearings can be mistaken for play and these are far easier to rectify
Will they own up?
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Post by lagain on Mar 16, 2006 19:35:07 GMT
It is quite rare for these to go . I occassionally grease mine by carefully lifting the boot and with a short length of narrow pipe on the end of the grease gun squeeze a little in.If the boot is fragile it would be best not to touch it. If you release one of the ball joints on the steering you can check each side independently, but I would take the car back to the MOT place and ask them to show you. The top ones are more likely to go and are easy to replace, if you can get them.
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