4 replies to this topic

[Vinnienova]

I took my mini city for its mot and it has failed on the following :-
Front suspension has excessive play in upper suspension ball joint nearside

Front suspension has excessive movement at suspension ball joint offside lower

What I need to know is can I just fasten tighter to get it through its mot or is there more involved I really am desperate to know how to sort these two problems out myself and how I would go about it? Many thanks hope someone can help! I have attached an image of the mot sheet number 6 and 7 are the problems I need to sort thanks again

Attached Files

•  IMG_20160908_151344.jpg   28.18K   5 downloads

[nicklouse]

depends on how bad it is.

 

you may be able to adjust or you may need to fit new ball joint. Top tip keep your old shims as you may not get enough with the new kit.

 

How to fit and shim ball joints correctly is covered in your Haynes manual.

 you will need a ball joint splitter and a suitably sized socket and torque wrench and a grease gun. along with other normal tools.

[dyshipfakta]

Excessive suggests they are worn and should be replaced. Mind had minor play as an advisory so I greased the heck out of them and can't feel any play now

[Cooperman]

A very common Mini problem.
Just fit a new pair of ball joints.

[tiger99]

Yes, do that, change them. They will have worn oval and will be tight at large angles if you adjust the shimming to get them tight at small angles. Tight ball joints are liable to fracture and potentially cause a serious accident.

Please pay very careful attention to the instructions about shimming in Haynes. They must on no account be tight anywhere in the range of angular movement. 1 or 2 thou of end float is ok.

I suggest that you change all 4, and keep them well greased. Use genuine parts only, and you should be ok for several tens of thousands of miles at least.