 | Home > Technical > Drop arm ball joint - worth checking! |
 
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| rustandoil Member Since: 08 Sep 2012 Location: Cotswolds Posts: 664   
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It'll drive much better after you've sorted that out 👍🏻
Considered a Discovery drop arm conversion? |
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9th Mar 2023 7:42am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16876  
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The boot should (I think) have been a failure not an advisory, and the condition the joint should have been picked up on the MoT test and been a failure long before it became that bad.
That joint is one of many things that should be checked, it's pretty appalling that people don't. It is, of course, the reason we have the MoT test. |
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9th Mar 2023 8:43am |
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| derbywill Member Since: 25 Mar 2010 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 539 
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They are a crap design, one reason why I went for the Discovery conversion when I fitted Sumo bars, much better design and easier to change.
Cheers Will 2005 90 XS 1954 86'' Series 1 tilt |
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9th Mar 2023 9:55am |
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| Bowbearer Member Since: 12 Aug 2022 Location: Norfolk Posts: 124 
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Make sure you buy a good quality replacement.
i got a next day delivery from ebay because I needed the vehicle. The part came in a Blue box!!! When I tried to tighten it up to seat the ball joint the thread just chewed up, it was made out of cheese. Will not make that mistake again. My 110 does a lot of work off road and has a heavy front (salisbury axel) so I usually change them once a year to make sure they don't fail, easy to do. |
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9th Mar 2023 11:26am |
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| HTB Member Since: 24 Mar 2013 Location: Surrey Posts: 71 
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I need to have a look at the disco conversion. Currently getting to grips with all of the things that ought to have been changed out and replaced ages ago and clearing the MOT advisories. Poor car doesnt know what's happening to it at the moment! |
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9th Mar 2023 10:18pm |
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| RobKeay Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Stafford Posts: 1567 
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Brought mine from gwyn Lewis.
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9th Mar 2023 10:54pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 765 
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In my experience the drop arm ball joint gets a lot of unfair flak. They are actually not as bad as people say and certainly not an annual consumable.
Granted, they are usually in shocking condition on vehicles I have bought, but this is either due to neglect or poor parts. They might not last forever, but fit genuine (via an alternative seller) or a good quality kit with good grease and make sure tha boot is kept in good condition and they do last many years. Not really worth modifying the steering set-up to get rid. Also, not advisable to use the new pin to pull the seat into place, regardless of what make the pin is! |
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10th Mar 2023 6:20am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3207  
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To keep in mind that the drop arm ball joint is inverted, so once the boot is compromised, all the dirt, grit, water etc goes into the joint. Same if you swap over to a Discovery setup, once the boot is compromised.
One could drill and tap a thread for a grease nipple in the Defender ball joint kit. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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10th Mar 2023 7:21am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16876
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I have recently replaced mine to do a Sumo/Disco drop arm conversion, but the original ball-joint was still completely fine although the gaiter didn't have long to live. This is at 15 years old and 265,000 miles.
The originals are actually pretty good, unless the gaiter fails. Look after them and they'll look after you. |
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10th Mar 2023 9:50am |
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