s40/v40 new bottom ball joint size problems

[Clan]

Originally Posted by emtor

A lower ball joint that comes loose is no fun.
I replaced mine last year. It came with a circlip but I couldn't get the clip on and was afraid that the needed amount of stretching it to get it on would break it.
So I looked on forums and every one said;- forget the circlip, the ball joint is pressed so tightly into the control arm that it is not really needed.
Yeah right! - A few weeks later I was driving home from a birthday party, not fast, maybe 30 miles per hour,-and right then a loud bang was heard and the car jumped about a foot sideways.
I stopped at the shoulder for an inspection, and saw that the control arm had let go of the ball joint. Had that happened at 60 -70 miles per hour the car would have gone into low orbit.
I had it towed home and welded a solid piece of steel on to the control arm holding the ball joint in place.
Buy a kit with the ball joint and the control arm and stay alive.

you had a narrow escape yet you still won't buy a new arm and still continue to bodge a vital safety item , i certainly hope you dont kill anyone next time . I would certainly fail it at the next MOT .


From the MOT Tester's Manual

An inappropriate repair or modification includes welded repairs or the use of excessive heat to highly stressed components (see Appendix C) and modifications which are likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Clan

you had a narrow escape yet you still won't buy a new arm and still continue to bodge a vital safety item , i certainly hope you dont kill anyone next time . I would certainly fail it at the next MOT .


From the MOT Tester's Manual

An inappropriate repair or modification includes welded repairs or the use of excessive heat to highly stressed components (see Appendix C) and modifications which are likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

It passed the MOT.
The ball joint itself isn't welded to the control arm. A steel plate was placed under the ball joint and welded around the plate's edges to the control arm. I welded short bits at a time and cooled the ball joint by spraying water on it between each weld.

[lynns hubby]

Originally Posted by emtor

It passed the MOT.
The ball joint itself isn't welded to the control arm. A steel plate was placed under the ball joint and welded around the plate's edges to the control arm. I welded short bits at a time and cooled the ball joint by spraying water on it between each weld.

Surely just buying the complete arm would be better value than the time and effort you have put into this to justify what is in the end A BODGE to fool the tester.
If there is no play which you say there is not then the tester will probably not look to closely but the only person your fooling is yourself.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by lynns hubby

Surely just buying the complete arm would be better value than the time and effort you have put into this to justify what is in the end A BODGE to fool the tester.
If there is no play which you say there is not then the tester will probably not look to closely but the only person your fooling is yourself.

The arrangement is so visible and easy to see that the only way to not notice is if the tester would have been blind. The MOT happened the day after the fix, so little chance of dirt and grime covering up the welded plate.
The ball joint was not subjected to excessive heat, it barely got warm, the welds show no cracks after a year and a half. No signs of tire wear due to misalignement and no play.