Ball joints done

[Brian c]

Done my ball joints today, very satisfying job as it turns out. Only ever done the standard type before.

 

[Brian c]

 

[Brian c]

 

[Brian c]

 

[Keith Halstead]

What make are the arms Brian?

 

[Brian c]

It's pair of Bakergins .

 

[Trident team]

Hi Brian
I'm preparing to replace the ball joints in a pair of steering arms.
All the parts I have are pictured in the attachment and I can see they appear to be the same as what you had.
When the lock rings arrived I noticed that they were knurled on the top section, and the difference is .040''
between the lock ring O.D. and the steering arm I.D.
My first question is, ''When installing the lock ring into the steering arm, did you use a press?''
2nd question, the .040'' is quite a big difference, did your parts go together with any difficulty and is the ''knurling'' there to provide more positive fixing of the lock ring?
3rd question, to remove the worn cup and its lock ring. did you have any difficulty and how did you achieve the removal of them?
4th question, did you align one of the the small ''slots'' in the lock ring with the grease gallery in the steering arm when fitting he lock ring?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers Geoff

 

[Trident team]

Ball joint replacement kit image as received.
Cheers

 

[Brian c]

Hi Geoff, the locking ring is a tight fit, i pushed them in as far as i could by hand keeping them level then placed the spring cup, spring and shims on the retainer (strut upside down in a vice) placed the steering arm over them and evenly bolted it down witch pressed the retainer in. i did line up a slot with the grease nipple. I didn't remove the retainer as the steering arm's and retainers were bought new, i would imagine the retainer would be a bit of a pig to remove without damaging the ball joint or bearing.

 

[Brian c]

Geoff, these are the shims i used.
http://lotuscortina.net/~lotusc7/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7647

 

[Trident team]

Thank you for your response Brian
I am doing this pair for a mate's car. Hopefully it will be fairly straightforward as the parts are new.
Then I am going to change the ball joints on my own car and hope I can get the lock rings out without damaging the steering arms.
Is there anyone who has done this job ie., removing and replacing the lock ring and ball joint cup on a steering arm that has been in service?
Cheers Geoff

 

[Trident team]

Hi Brian
Did you apply any ''Loctite'' or similar compound to the ball joint cup when fitting into the steering arm
before the lock ring was pressed into place?

 

[Brian c]

Hi Geoff
No didn't use any Loctite mate.
Brian.

 

[Brian c]

Sounds silly but remember to put the bolt lock tabs on before bolting it onto the strut.

 

[Trident team]

ok...thanks

 

[Hiro]

Hi Brian, I’m interested in your ball joint end-float checked. First, I think you did check with remove the spring and the shims. How about these readings should fall between 0.009 and 0.025 in? Then How many shims did you use? and How about final thickness? Please tell me. I will do same job by myself shortly.
Thank you. Hiro

 

[Brian c]

Hi Hiro' yes i check the end float with the ball joint assembled but without the spring. The shims i used were measured in millimetres and there was 2mm to much movement, so fitted a 1mm and 2 0.5mm shims, manual recommends no more than 3 shims.

 

[Brian c]

Amazingly both struts needed the same size shims to be within the right clearance witch i can't remember but was well within 0.009 and 0.025 (0.23 to 0.035 mm)

 

[Trident team]

Hi Brian
I see in your comments on this thread that reference is made to service manual limits.
May I ask where is that information found?
Thanks
Regards Geoff

 

[Brian c]

Hi Brian
I see in your comments on this thread that reference is made to service manual limits.
May I ask where is that information found?
Thanks
Regards Geoff

Hi Geoff
I followed the guide lines from the haynes manual on the standard mk1 cortina, as the early cars used the same ball joints but fitted to different arms.