Suspension Lower Balljoint Rubbers

[maggi200]

My warranty sheet gave the price of the job as significantly cheaper

 

[sharpy36]

Pretty sure mine was around the £400 mark........just hope they don't fail again in 2 years.

 

[dbird]

can anyone shed some light on the price/ how you go around getting the lower arm changed for those out of warranty?

 

[DrDrew]

Can't say for price, but you'll probably have to call Renault UK customer services. They'll ask you to state your problem, and what you'd like them to do about it - i.e. you don't feel this part should be failing and is not down to normal "wear and tear" etc. etc. You've done some research, it seems to be a common problem and you'd ideally like a manufacturer replacement/contribution etc.

Not chosen the best words or the whole list there, but should give you the gist. Hopefully they'll offer to help out given the reputation of that part.

 

[maggi200]

Has anyone done any looking into the suitability of any replacement rubber joints?

I had a look at mine at the weekend and despite the considerable drop they're still fine with no sign of any damage, yet. But it was quite sudden with my last ones.

Tbh I think I would happily replace mine myself next time, besides its all of 3 bolts per side, but id rather replace the balljoint itself. After all, that's really the serviceable part and I wanted to get the arms powdercoated

 

[dbird]

thanks drdrew ill give them a call today!

 

[jamesw]

I'm yet another one to add to the list, 60 plate with 15k on the clock. Booked into Renault on Tuesday next week so fingers crossed It should be sorted out fairly soon.

 

[Caz-133cup]

Mines a 10 plate over 42k and not yet been replaced! My car must love me.... or hate me cuz now its out of warranty will be an expensive mend!!

 

[waitey]

Another one bites the dust!

Split rubbers and slight play 20k miles non-cup.

 

[waitey]

Took it to a local garage to double check and confirm and write it down.

Booked in for Friday 5th and have to pay £19.95 per day for a courtesy car! Rip off seeing as its their parts that have failed on a standard car.

 

[Forza]

Got mine back from the dealers today, and it sharpened up a lot! I guess I got used to it, but with the new suspension arms and track rod ends without play it drives so much better. No more rattle and unbalance at the front, it's planted.

 

[set69]

in 80.000 km 3 times changing ball joints, and now AGAIN!

now warranty is gone and i need to change again, are you sure that i cant press balljoint out and put another maybe not original part, some trw or something similar?

 

[singlespeed]

in 80.000 km 3 times changing ball joints, and now AGAIN!

now warranty is gone and i need to change again, are you sure that i cant press balljoint out and put another maybe not original part, some trw or something similar?

You can slightly see a thread and theres four holes for a peg spanner to fit onto. So, guessing they are screw in but I haven't removed one to check and measure the thread diameter/pitch

After trawling parts catalogues, theres a few screw in joints which are mentioned a few pages back. Wether they work thread wise and taper size is another matter which needs looking at :?


Another option may be Clio 182 Trophy lower arms and bolt on balljoints. Problem being, I don't know if the inboard ends would line up with the subframe and them being the correct length to give the same track (width of the wheel base) and will the balljoint end up in the correct place to give the same camber/caster.

 

[set69]

probably clio trophy arms are more expansive than twingo arms

ill try to remove that ball joint and then we will see

 

[singlespeed]

The Clio 172/182/182 Cup/ Trophy arms look simillar pressed steel with holes to bolt the ball joint onto.

The reason I'd try 182 cup or trophy arms would be the positioning of the bolt holes for the ball joint gives simillar caster angles etc as the Twingo. Although, thats on the assumption that the whshbone is the same length and, the subframe mounts and therefore balljoint position are in the same place relative to the topmount :?

 

[maggi200]

probably clio trophy arms are more expansive than twingo arms

ill try to remove that ball joint and then we will see

Probably not. But the real saving would be ball joints that are then treated on a 133 as a serviceable item rather than replace the whole arm every time. I took a look last time, but didnt remove the ball joint.

What took would usually be used Neil?

 

[jamesw]

So ive just picked the dini up from the garage and they have confirmed that the lower balljoints have seen better days. Booked back in next week for them to fit the parts under warranty, hopefully that will be the last of it

 

[RS133ETO]

Just checked mine.. split!!

 

[maggi200]

I checked mine this evening. Just got a face full of floor and didn't see much :lol:

 

[waitey]

I checked mine this evening. Just got a face full of floor and didn't see much :lol:

Kerbs and planks of wood are your best friends when lowered :lol: