11 replies to this topic

[peter griffin]

Ive been told by my mechanic that both swivel joints on my 1993 Tahiti need replacing 9stiff steering,tracking out etc).

Is this a relatively easy job to do and what is involved /
As of yet I do not have ;

• A Torque wrench
• Ball spliter
• Vice

Any advice would be appretiated .

[Big_Adam]

Vice,

Bugger that, 1.5inch spanner and a hammer is all you need. ..... and a splitter.

If you done it before then you can get it done in an hour or so.

[AlexM]

When you say both...there are more than two on a mini. An upper and lower on each side for both the upper and lower suspension arms. However there is also track rod ends which are more likely to put tracking out if they are damaged.

Ball joints should have a degree of stiffness as a loose joint will cause vehicle wandering etc.

Stiff steering on the other hand could be caused by a faulty steering rack or a seized componant....

1.5" Deep socket

17mm socket

Copper Eaze for reassembly

Grease + grease Gun

Like all jobs its easy so long as everything comes apart and no threads are stripped or componants seized.

[minidaves]

replacing of adjusting?

also a vice makes this job easier

a 1.5" deep socket, and 11/16's socket 17mm wheres that on a classic mini?

or pay someone to do it £25 per side plus parts is the price i charge

dave

[peter griffin]

When you say both...there are more than two on a mini. An upper and lower on each side for both the upper and lower suspension arms. However there is also track rod ends which are more likely to put tracking out if they are damaged.

Ball joints should have a degree of stiffness as a loose joint will cause vehicle wandering etc.

Stiff steering on the other hand could be caused by a faulty steering rack or a seized componant....

1.5" Deep socket

17mm socket

Copper Eaze for reassembly

Grease + grease Gun

Like all jobs its easy so long as everything comes apart and no threads are stripped or componants seized.

Does this mean that the upper suspension arm has two as does the lower making it 4 or is there one for the upper and one for the lower making it two each side ?

Edited by peter griffin, 12 April 2007 - 09:54 PM.

[cowboy]

on each hub you have an upper and lower.

easy job to do, i have managed it in the past with a 1 1/2 inch spanner, but now i got me a deep socket for the job.

the swivels are shimed so you might just need to add a new shim if they are tight,

cant see how stiff swivels will put your tracking out. stiff steering yes, who has done what to them?

[peter griffin]

on each hub you have an upper and lower.

easy job to do, i have managed it in the past with a 1 1/2 inch spanner, but now i got me a deep socket for the job.

the swivels are shimed so you might just need to add a new shim if they are tight,

cant see how stiff swivels will put your tracking out. stiff steering yes, who has done what to them?

Im not quite sure,
the steering has been heavy since I got it and I was sure that my first mini (a Poo Brown Clubman with 10" Wheels) was lighter.I just put it down to the larger wheels and being spoilt with PAS for 5 years !

However,the steering wheel was also off centre so I thought I best get the tracking looked at.
I am guessing that the two are not really connected,but the mechanic (Frank at Bells in Britwell near Didcot,who I would recommend without hesitation !) said that is no point doing the tracking untill the joints are replaced.

Can I therefore confirm that each side has two swivel joints ,so I will therefore require two sets,one per side?

[jonny d]

Hi I think you should take them off prompto and inspect
them, minis are such DIY you dont know who's had ago at them
in the past the balljoints need setting up properly by adding or
subtracting shims that come with the new joints goodluck.
PS you have greased the nipples on them have you.

[peter griffin]

Hi I think you should take them off prompto and inspect
them, minis are such DIY you dont know who's had ago at them
in the past the balljoints need setting up properly by adding or
subtracting shims that come with the new joints goodluck.
PS you have greased the nipples on them have you.

They havce been greased,but I think I will change them anyway so that they are a known quantitiy !
just a quick question for mr Thick here;when you put the suspension arms back onto the swivel joints,is it the torquing up of the nuts that will cause the joints to attachthemselves firmly to the tapered ends of the swivel joint ? 9if you know what I mean as you have to use a ball joint splitter to release them ).

[Nic]

yeah just tighten the nut up and it all fits back into place.

[jonny d]

yeah if the pin spins when you try to tighten them put
a jack under the joint with spacers if needed JD

[binge]

If your tracking is out, Then it is more than likely your track rod ends rather than the upper / lower ball joints.
Ball joints hold the "camber" of the wheel straight, Whilst the Track rod ends hold the steering of the wheels straight.

You need to get the car jacked up, and give the wheel a "Up - down" wobble, and a "left - right" wobble. See if there is any play anywhere.
If you are getting play when you wobble the wheel up and down (Hands at 12 oclock and 6 oclock on the wheel) then its going to be the ball joints (Upper or lower), You will have to look at them whilst you wobble the wheel to see which one is the culprit, if not both of them.

If you are getting a left to right wobble, Then it will be your track rod end. If this is the case, then they are MUCH easier to change than the ball joints. Just try and get the new one back on in the same sort of place as the old one was taken off so you can at least drive the car safely to a workshop to have the tracking set up.


Guide price to go by for ball joints and track rod ends is about £30 each. Thats what we charge at kwikfit.
To buy the parts at a supplier, you are looking at about £4 a track rod end, and about £10 a side for ball joints.
So you can see that you are probably better off having a go at it yourself. It really isn't too difficult.

Where abouts are you based? Local to Medway towns? Id be happy to help you out if your not too far.


<|Ben|>