Billyboy Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Well as it says.............although there is only about 2 or 3 mm play and there is no adverse effects I think I will change them anyway! Problem is...... how are they made up doesnt look like a normal ball joint as the top if there is play is it a new bottom arm I need, very odd looking setup IYAM...... Anyone else changed these? if so what was the modus operandi you used.......... cheers 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 according to loads on this old thread of mine they never wear out sigh here is C7 TOP Taffia Area Rep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Buy the bearings from CC. They are held in by either a circlip or an odd washer jobby that screws in (not a tech description). I found the best way to change them is to take the bottom wishbone off and get them out on a bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyboy Posted June 28, 2007 Author Share Posted June 28, 2007 Thanks for replies thus far....However I think some owners here may not be checking the item correctly as I also found no play on my pre MOT check. I have now jacked up front o/s under the shock mount and then use a flat bar under tyre and lift you can then feel the play in the bottom joint! And after just 5100 miles of light use! no track days ☹️ dam! and blast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Interesting that having replaced a trunnion with a spherical joint the test for wear is identical - get the wheel unloaded and off the deck then lift it with a big bar and see if it moves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 I had my bottom joints replaced by a well known 7 Specialist. At the MOT 12 months later I had this problem & got an advisory. Think the problem is not the joint as such but the joint moving in the housing. Maybe it wasn't fitted with the required bearing fit? Solved by moving to widetrack, which come with pre-fitted joints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Been here and got the T-shirt. Assuming the advisory is relating to the ball joint mounted at the outer end of the lower front wishbone the problem can be one of two things. 1 - the bearing has been incorrectly fitted (yes I've done it) or 2 - the bearing has worn. The process of changing them is very easy (with one caveat) and the bearings are about £20 each. 1. Jack up front end to take load off suspension. 2. Undo the nylock under neat the bearing which holds the wishbone/bearing to the bottom of the upright. 3. Undo and remove the allen bolt that goes through the bottom shock mount - now this is the one that can be a pain. They siezed in place and you can end up rounding the head of the bolt. If it won't come undone then remove the top shock mounting bolt instead and the the shock will come out with the lower wishbone shortly. 4. Undo the 2 bolts that fix the wishbone to the lower chassis rail. 5. Remove wishbone (and shock) from car. 6. Remove the circlip which fits in a groove under the bearing. 7. At this point if the bearing falls out then the lack of bearing lock (loctite of the correct type) was the problem. If not the most likely there is wear in the bearing. 8. Assuming the bearing didn't fall out use two appropriately sized sockets, one either side, and a bench vice to press the bearing out of the housing. 9. Fit new bearing useing bearing lock. 10. Re-assemble in the reverse order making sure that if you managed to remove the lower shock mounting bolt that this is covered in copperslip before re-inserting with just a little thread lock on the end of the thread. Did I miss anything? Steve. Sussex (West) AO Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjmmarsh Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Does this work for any recent car, or only certain types of suspension? I ask because when my bearing went on my 2001 SV, CC replaced the whole wishbone, not just the bearing. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Not aware it's changed. Could be they knacker the wishbone trying to undo the bottom shock mount bolt perhaps. My current car is a 1998 model and the latest I've worked on this area was my 2001 Academy car which was identical IIRC. Steve. Sussex (West) AO Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyboy Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Good step by step steve thanks! I am bracing myself to get both sides done very soon! not completely ☹️ as the weather is rubbish and is forcast the same for a few days at least..... Bearings 20 quid! where from.............. bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 CC parts dept is easiest. Steve. Sussex (West) AO Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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