Ball joints

[Jasonking]

Hi, can somebody tell me how difficult it’s to replace front ball joints please?, also how easy is it to replace front discs? And the cover on the 3 clock binnacle(love that word!) what’s it held on by, self tappers or tiny bolts? Ta.

[timmy201]

It’s not particularly difficult to replace the ball joints and discs, but you’ll need the right tools and at least a day in the garage. You may as well do both these jobs at the same time

They are safety critical jobs though, so if you aren’t sure it’s best to take them to a professional, as a loose or tight ball joint can cause real damage

[Peter Laidler]

There are a few good threads about replacing the ball joints jason, including a couple of modifications that you might choose to adopt. To be honest, the best info about doing the job I found was not the BL workshop manual but the Haynes manual. Lots of useful pictures for thicko's like me. You'll need a deep 1.5" socket spanner to - unless you make your own from flat plate steel like I did. But sitting there with the car jacked up, one at a time will take a couple of hours per side at a guess to break the taper joint, strip the old, clean down and set-up the new and lock down. Maybe a bit more if it's a hydro car.

If you were local I'd say I'll do one with you to show you the way and you could do the rest in your own time

Front discs......... Is it an S or a Cooper. About an hour per side for an S but a bit longer for a Cooper

3 clock thinggy that screws in from the front with 4 self tappers......., just as long as it takes to unscrew the screws. Unless it's a Mk2. If it is, then you'll have to come back as it's a tad more, er......., 'interesting'!

[Jasonking]

Cheers chaps, the clock cover doesn’t like self tappers at all, maybe there’s a reason that it doesn’t have any in to start with! Will probably go for the modern type of ball joints the specialists sell for less hassle, car is mk1 850 that’s had cooper brakes fitted in the dim and distant past!

[Peter Laidler]

Maybe the self tapper threads have stripped. You could just remove the black cover and the retaining thinggies (held in from the sides) and gently swage the stripped holes so that they do retain the self tappers. A bit of a bodge but it's not structural.

There have been a few uncomplimentary remarks about the 'fit-and-forget sealed for life, all singing and dancing pre-set' ball joints. Have you ever thought about simply adjusting yours. They can usually be adjusted to take up the slack once or twice before they're knackered.

[Spider]

As Pete has mentioned, the maintenance free joints are no good and frankly, dangerous.

There is some info in this thread;- http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34392

However, just for now, hold the 'thought' on the OEM type joints out of Japan,,,,,

[Jasonking]

Indeed will take off cover and sort it, ball joints are well past it, no grease or rubber boots left on two and others pretty shot at too, methinks an mot beckons just for a giggle