2 replies to this topic

[racingbob]

whenever i have play in the front ball joints it always seems the top ones 

 

do i assume there is more strain on the top than bottom

[nicklouse]

The lower ones have the spring which can hide I bit of play.

Also consider all the weight is taken by the top cups.

[tiger99]

However the lower ones on my Minis usually wore faster. That is possibly because they carry a larger share of the cornering and braking loads, and I used the cornering potential to the full, to make up for only having 998 engines.

I generally changed all 4 together, which was not very often, probably at least 60 to 70000 miles, because I very carefully set them up to under 1 thou clearance, strictly observing the "no nip" stipulation. And I greased them regularly every 6000 miles, which at one time was about every 2 months. I never timed myself, but I think it probably took no more than 10 minutes to grease the Mini, all 8 nipples, and half of that time was putting the steering on full lock and lying down.

But the long life may also be explained by using properly made parts, originally BMC, then Quinton Hazell or Unipart. It may not be so easily achieved now as the standard of machining on many of those currently available is abysmal.