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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Replace Ball Joints

Posted by: vesnyder Dec 5 2005, 04:21 PM

I am redoing some of the bushings on my front end and was wondering if I should do the ball joints while I have the car up? How can you tell if they are bad? Do they go bad (30 yr old car)?? What would you do?

Posted by: Mueller Dec 5 2005, 04:29 PM

for piece of mind I'd replace them......cheaper and easier to do it now while your there

Posted by: rdauenhauer Dec 5 2005, 04:36 PM

Easier?

that will depend!

Posted by: jdogg Dec 5 2005, 06:49 PM

Warning *shameless plug*

If I were you, I'd just make this guy an offer and replace those things : http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=18&t=42120

Posted by: michelko Dec 6 2005, 12:40 AM

QUOTE (vesnyder @ Dec 5 2005, 02:21 PM)
I am redoing some of the bushings on my front end and was wondering if I should do the ball joints while I have the car up? How can you tell if they are bad? Do they go bad (30 yr old car)?? What would you do?

Hi,
i would change them. But be aware, they might come of very difficult

Look here:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=40725&st=20

I had to grind the big nuts to get them open.

Posted by: tat2dphreak Dec 6 2005, 09:50 AM

I haven't replaced my 914 ball joints yet, but most car it's a pain... but it's a pain that's worth EVERY second... if you've never had a ball joint break going down the road... I'll save you the time... you don't want it to happen!!!!

Posted by: Spoke Dec 6 2005, 12:14 PM

You can check the ball joints by lifting a wheel and grabbing the wheel side-to-side then top-to-bottom and wiggling the wheel back and forth. You shouldn't feel any clunking (meaning that a ball joint or tie rod end is moving back and forth in its housing). You should just feel the movement in the steering and suspension. You need to keep in mind that the wheel bearings may have some play in them.

Its really hard to tell if the joints are good when the car is apart. Since you're having so much fun with the front end, perhaps you should have an extra $100 of fun and invest in the new ball joints. Do you know if the ball joints are original or have been changed. There's always the chance that they are relatively new.

Spoke