5 replies to this topic

[tj80]

Hi,

 

I'm about to try changing a front nearside knuckle as it's started squeaking horribly.  Couple of questions for the collective wisdom!  :)

 

- Is it ok to just change one side or do I need to do both?  Both were replaced only a few hundred miles and 4 years ago just before we bought the car, but only one side is making the noise!

- I bought two replacements from MiniSpares in case I need to do both sides.  I notice that on one of them the nylon cup can easily be pulled away from the ball inside with your fingers (still held by the boot, but can be pulled 2 or 3mm away from the ball with audible squelching of grease).  However, the other seems much tighter and I cannot pull the cup away from the ball at all, at least with reasonable finger pressure, though it feels like it's greased and smooth when rotating.  Is this normal or is one of them either faulty or contains too much/too little grease?

- Should I peel away the boots, remove the cups and grease them before fitting?

 

Many thanks,
Tim

Edited by tj80, 07 March 2024 - 09:43 AM.

[mab01uk]

I would advise you also fit these upgraded Minispares knuckle gaiters as the standard runner ones don't seem to last long:-

https://www.minispar.../21A425EVO.aspx

 

[tj80]

Thanks, these are the ones I got which seem to have the poly gaiters on them already.  :)
https://www.minispar...GSV1118EVO.aspx

[coopertaz]

it's always advisable with any suspension parts to do both sides, you may find ride height high at first after doing these but suspension will settle

[sonscar]

Clean the bottom of the hole in the arm and clear out the hole in the bottom.The plastic cup needs to seat properly in the bottom,Steve..

[Spider]

Given that you seemed to have gotten short life from your previous knuckles, when you remove the old cups from the arms, check the socket in the arm still has it's flattened V in the bottom and that it hasn't rounded out from a cup previously wearing through and ending up rounding out the base of that socket.