Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Discovery => Topic started by: skiprat on March 10, 2007, 18:02:39

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: skiprat on March 10, 2007, 18:02:39

hello everybody,

I have just been under my disco after being advised i may have an iffy ball joint, upon closer inspection i have found that i have 3 iffy balljoints.  

as you face the car its the ball joint that sits quite high on the drivers side, and the lower 2 on the passenger side.

Unfortunatly i dont have a parts breakdown, so please could somebody point me in the right direction for getting some replacements? it is a 1996 300tdi.

many thanks

kris

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: Leslie Henson on March 10, 2007, 18:18:55

Do you mean track rod ends?


Les.

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 11, 2007, 02:21:05

Simple, the 2 on the front drag link are one LH thread that should be on the steering box drop arm, but frequently isn't and one RH thread on the LH end (passenger's side in the UK).

Because of the steering damper the rear track rod cannot be spun to adjust the tracking so both balljoints are RH thread and there is a short section of track rod at the RH end with a LH thread into the main trackrod, so 3 threaded sections in all on the rear trackrod.  You adjust the tracking by using the 2 threads at the RH end.  Therefore although you don't need to loosen that final thread to change the balljoints (track rod ends) you do need it moving when you get the tracking set up.

For what the joints cost vs the price of a tracking check I'd order 4 and do the lot in one go.

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: skiprat on March 11, 2007, 11:51:46

thanks for that... #-o

so how many RH and LH do i need??? 2 of each???

sorry to ask what is probably an obvious question. :(stoopid):

cheers

kris

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 11, 2007, 11:54:10

No, 1 LH and 3 RH on a RRC/Disco

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: freeagent on March 11, 2007, 18:14:08

and good luck getting it all appart if they have been in there for a while... :roll:

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 12, 2007, 01:11:30

Absolutley, I spent an hour with a blowtorch and hammer, plus a can of WD40 failing to get one of mine free.  Best advice is to loosen one at a time and remove one balljoint, then grip that balljoint and try to turn the thing round, take it out not screw it in.

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: hairyasswelder on March 12, 2007, 10:43:47

I used a vice and a big pair of stilsons,  plenty of wd and wire brush on grinder, blowtorch on standby  :lol:

Doesnt matter if you trash the old ones  :wink:

If you clean them first you can see which one is the lefty, then still 'undo' it the wrong way   :roll:

Steve

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 12, 2007, 19:45:37

Mine are so tight the stilsons weren't having it, that's why I smacked it with a hammer.

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: hairyasswelder on March 12, 2007, 21:34:55

Quote from: "Range Rover Blues"

Mine are so tight the stilsons weren't having it, that's why I smacked it with a hammer.

You need to see the stilsons  :twisted:  :twisted:
4 ft long and huge jaws

Steve

Title: Ball Joints ???
Post by: Range Rover Blues on March 12, 2007, 23:13:12

:shock:

Cool, but mine were just slipping round the bar, it's too hard for them to dig in.

Still, I've got that Dan bar you fetched me to put on Blue, then I can nick that trackrod for the LSE as it's nearly new.

Just wait 'till the weather's better.