8 replies to this topic

[AlasdairM]

1990 1275 cooper, standard suspension, almost 100,000 miles

 

Hi

 

After my mini sat for 13 years, I recently put it back on the road and have probably done around 1000 miles. 

 

After those miles, some things have started to un-seize. One of the things is the front bottom passenger's side ball joint. I jacked up the car last night and there is quite a lot of play in the joint. 

 

Obviously the best thing is to replace it ASAP, however I don't have a garage atm, and will be putting the mini away for the winter in a month or so- so would rather wait until then. My question is: will it cause damage elsewhere, driving around with a worn ball joint? If it is just wearing the ball joint out (which will be replaced), then I am not too fussed. However if there are knock on effects (pun) then I don't want to damage other components.

 

I have tried to pump more grease in, however it was not going into the joint. I'll order new nipples in the meantime, and try and pack the joint with grease. 

 

thanks in advance

[nicklouse]

It may it may not. Worst case it fails totally and the wheel crunches up the wing and A panel and you get a flat spot on your disc and maybe on the sump.

 

you don’t need a garage do do a ball joint.

[paulrockliffe]

Not sure that's worse case really, worse case all that happens and the car goes off the road and destroys everything.

 

It won't damage anything else as it is, it's just if the wear causes the joint to go past it's safe angle and snaps the pin that you'll have problems, but then the consequences are potentially unlimited.

 

If you can sort it inside a garage, you can sort it in the street and it's one less job to get through in the winter.

[sonscar]

Have a look and make sure the joint is actually screwed on tightly.As said the wheel could fall off.Steve..

[Tornado99]

To better grease the joint, you should take the loads off it before using grease gun. With wheel off ground try greasing with at different steering angles. Theres a note in Haynes and workshop manuals about lifting wheels for greasing. I found it to make a big difference.
In addition to checking if the ball joint connection nut is fastened fully, also check the large end half dome nut is fully torqued and the bent over locking washer hasnt been compromised. If dome nut is loose, wouldn't expect locking washer tohold it much.

[cal844]

You'll need a 1 5/16 socket for the ball joint nut, then just strip and clean, then reassemble with fresh grease and be sure to keep the old shims as you may need them to remove the play.

Edited by cal844, 02 September 2020 - 03:17 PM.

[AlasdairM]

Ok thanks a lot for your advice. I'm not expecting catastrophic failure- it's just a bit loose! 

 

Yeah I jacked the car up last time I tried to grease, but it didn't make any difference. I will try different steering angles though, that might work. 

[GraemeC]

Remove the grease nipple, give it a good clean in brake cleaner/thinners/petrol, check the little ball bearing isn't seized by poking it with a fine tool and then refit.

[Tornado99]

FYI, there is another thread going on at this time regarding a maintenance free ball joint from Japan for our cars:

 

http://www.theminifo...oint-kit/page-5