Lower ball joint failure - Ooops!?

MG68 · Oct 19th, 2017, 14:11

What a day yesterday. Feel like I've been run over today...:-(

Took the 627k-er for a drive down to Swansea for a business meet from Salisbury. Wafted down the M4 without hitch and in usual un-eventful style.

On start of return trip, coming out of the parking bay, heard a crunch and no drive. Ooooh what could that be? Round the front of the car and the wheels are smiling at me "fish tail" style.

The drivers wheel has thrown the ball joint, dented the rear of the front wheel arch / lower sill and snapped the drive shaft. Deep joy.

Finally got off the Green Flag Lorry at my local garage at 9.30pm,where it's hopefully going to be fixed up and back on the road shortly.

Little miffed, as only just had 2 replacement drive-shafts fitted recently.

Knew I shouldn't have put those new Goodyear Vectors tyres on couple of weeks ago...

Still, while unlikely, the ball joint could have gone AWOL on the M4, so thankful for small mercies..

Good driving all!

abdiel · Oct 19th, 2017, 14:19

Bugger!
Still, as you pointed out every cloud has a silver lining.......somewhere!

Georgeandkira · Oct 20th, 2017, 12:06

MAN! The thought of "high speed wheel disengagement" is frightening.

Are you fixing the high miler?

I see three "theatres of repair".

1) The parts you know broke (ball joint etc.)
2) The parts they broke (body damage)
3) Parts you're not aware of yet.

...plus an alignment when you're done.

The mantra, "It'll cost more to fix than it's worth", may be yours to mutter.

MG68 · Oct 20th, 2017, 16:43

Found a replacement driveshaft at Huddersfield Volvo Breakers for £65, don't know how much a couple of ball joints are to buy (anyone?) but the garage have ordered a pair, and it's around £200 labour.

Happy days!

MG68 · Oct 25th, 2017, 18:34

Big miler back on the road, running like a dream once more.

£265 to get the driveshaft, two ball joints fitted and they even had a good go at bending the lower wing out together with fixing the front bumper.

I had noticed recently an increasing clonk over the bumps and occasionally when braking or pulling away, and that's all gone now.

I've given the car a good wash, and had a quiet word in its ear that I don't want any more aggro for the next couple of years.

Let's see ;-)

Ps. Can highly recommend my local garage, Ray Hunt 4x4, if anyone needs a reliable garage in the Salisbury area. Nothing is ever too much trouble, they have a good team, and one of the guys was Volvo trained also.

Oct 19th, 2017, 14:11	#1
MG68 Member Last Online: May 11th, 2023 17:12 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Salisbury	Lower ball joint failure - Ooops!? What a day yesterday. Feel like I've been run over today...:-( Took the 627k-er for a drive down to Swansea for a business meet from Salisbury. Wafted down the M4 without hitch and in usual un-eventful style. On start of return trip, coming out of the parking bay, heard a crunch and no drive. Ooooh what could that be? Round the front of the car and the wheels are smiling at me "fish tail" style. The drivers wheel has thrown the ball joint, dented the rear of the front wheel arch / lower sill and snapped the drive shaft. Deep joy. Finally got off the Green Flag Lorry at my local garage at 9.30pm,where it's hopefully going to be fixed up and back on the road shortly. Little miffed, as only just had 2 replacement drive-shafts fitted recently. Knew I shouldn't have put those new Goodyear Vectors tyres on couple of weeks ago... Still, while unlikely, the ball joint could have gone AWOL on the M4, so thankful for small mercies.. Good driving all!

Oct 19th, 2017, 14:19	#2
abdiel VOC Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 23:23 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Further North than the Back of Beyond	Lower ball joint Bugger! Still, as you pointed out every cloud has a silver lining.......somewhere!

Oct 20th, 2017, 12:06	#3
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Apr 25th, 2024 14:34 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	MAN! The thought of "high speed wheel disengagement" is frightening. Are you fixing the high miler? I see three "theatres of repair". 1) The parts you know broke (ball joint etc.) 2) The parts they broke (body damage) 3) Parts you're not aware of yet. ...plus an alignment when you're done. The mantra, "It'll cost more to fix than it's worth", may be yours to mutter.

Oct 20th, 2017, 16:43	#4
MG68 Member Last Online: May 11th, 2023 17:12 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Salisbury	Found a replacement driveshaft at Huddersfield Volvo Breakers for £65, don't know how much a couple of ball joints are to buy (anyone?) but the garage have ordered a pair, and it's around £200 labour. Happy days!

Oct 25th, 2017, 18:34	#5
MG68 Member Last Online: May 11th, 2023 17:12 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Salisbury	Big miler back on the road, running like a dream once more. £265 to get the driveshaft, two ball joints fitted and they even had a good go at bending the lower wing out together with fixing the front bumper. I had noticed recently an increasing clonk over the bumps and occasionally when braking or pulling away, and that's all gone now. I've given the car a good wash, and had a quiet word in its ear that I don't want any more aggro for the next couple of years. Let's see ;-) Ps. Can highly recommend my local garage, Ray Hunt 4x4, if anyone needs a reliable garage in the Salisbury area. Nothing is ever too much trouble, they have a good team, and one of the guys was Volvo trained also.

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