Suspension Lower Balljoint Rubbers

[ollieallen]

They can say that changing the suspension parts (i.e. coilovers) could effect the failed part - so be willing to cover less with you having modified the suspension away from standard

Thought that might be the case, I'll see what they say tomorrow

 

[mazmaz]

They can say that changing the suspension parts (i.e. coilovers) could effect the failed part - so be willing to cover less with you having modified the suspension away from standard

I'm not stock att all but they guive the 75% before they start working on car

and they don't really care

 

[DrDrew]

They can say that changing the suspension parts (i.e. coilovers) could effect the failed part - so be willing to cover less with you having modified the suspension away from standard

I'm not stock att all but they guive the 75% before they start working on car

and they don't really care

That's good from Renault on your behalf though
I'm sure there's been someone in this thread that was told they weren't covered, as they had coilovers

 

[maggi200]

Apart from the fact they're visibly worn and have leaked, they're not replacing them as the garage has said they're not showing any sign of wear at all.

Yet apparently there's significant wear in the bushes and the cover for the track rods, which Carrie will verify were like new when we checked at the weekend, and as a result no offer of warranty on the part and I've got a fight on my hands. Naturally the woman who called back (after I chased for an update as we haven't heard a thing, even to say they're on it) was not mechanically minded at all, so working in a service department was clearly not helpful!

Needless to say I'm tempted to buy the parts and sort it myself purely to get this over with.

Incidentally they wanted 42% more for the parts alone and excluding delivery than Karl has priced up delivered

 

[maggi200]

And the result is Renault UK want to contribute 50% to a part I'm not convinced needs any attention (excessive play in the rack, which as far as I could tell with the car up last weekend looked as new with no sign of wear and tear, and the price with the contribution is basically the same as Karls quoted for the parts.

I'm going to have an independent engineers report made so I can at least get them to look at the ball joints properly, and realise that they need replacing.

I'm happy to try any joints Neil thinks might fit and use the car as a Guinea Pig :lol:

 

[singlespeed]

And the result is Renault UK want to contribute 50% to a part I'm not convinced needs any attention (excessive play in the rack, which as far as I could tell with the car up last weekend looked as new with no sign of wear and tear, and the price with the contribution is basically the same as Karls quoted for the parts.

I'm going to have an independent engineers report made so I can at least get them to look at the ball joints properly, and realise that they need replacing.

I'm happy to try any joints Neil thinks might fit and use the car as a Guinea Pig :lol:

You can rule out the MGF/Metro screw in joints as the screw thread is too small in diameter.

 

[maggi200]

There's a single (rather corroded) Nearside wishbone from a 182 cup on the bay of e.

Do Renault sell the ball joints for these on their own? If so I'll take a punt at it and measure it up as a possible replacement

 

[maggi200]

Oh and then get it stripped and powder coated at the same time as the wheels that I'm having done

 

[Caz-133cup]

And the result is Renault UK want to contribute 50% to a part I'm not convinced needs any attention (excessive play in the rack, which as far as I could tell with the car up last weekend looked as new with no sign of wear and tear, and the price with the contribution is basically the same as Karls quoted for the parts.

I'm going to have an independent engineers report made so I can at least get them to look at the ball joints properly, and realise that they need replacing.

I'm happy to try any joints Neil thinks might fit and use the car as a Guinea Pig :lol:

Take it I'm the bloody guinea pig!

 

[maggi200]

Yep.

I've asked a few people for measurements on the wishbones, although I'm not sure what I'm after :lol: I'm sure technical details exist for the position of the subframe to actually make this easier....

I'm about to order the wishbone and will offer it up to the original, and then we can try and see how the geometry is affected, if at all.

If it's a go, this could be a replacement. I've got a few calls to make this lunchtime it seems.

 

[ollieallen]

Wow, Renault were in no way helpful in this case then. I need to call them myself still to get mine checked, hopefully it doesn't go the way yours has!

 

[maggi200]

It's mostly due to the dealer, which in the past I've found unhelpful when looking at cars.

They simply disagree that they're gone, when the grease is on the outside of the rubber and rubber has split, I'm not sure what else they could be :lol: TBH I'd prefer to do it myself, and find a long term solution to replacing the ball joints, rather than relying on Renault to replace the whole wishbone. Renault won't continue to replace them forever

 

[DrDrew]

Know the car's up in Lincolnshire, and dealers are sparse around - but you though of taking a day trip to somewhere like Peterborough to try another dealer?

 

[ollieallen]

It's mostly due to the dealer, which in the past I've found unhelpful when looking at cars.

They simply disagree that they're gone, when the grease is on the outside of the rubber and rubber has split, I'm not sure what else they could be :lol: TBH I'd prefer to do it myself, and find a long term solution to replacing the ball joints, rather than relying on Renault to replace the whole wishbone. Renault won't continue to replace them forever

This is true. I think I might end up going down the same road. Keep me updated on a solution if you find one!

I emailed Powerflex the other to ask if they planned on doing any bushes for the Twingo soon, but alas they aren't

 

[Caz-133cup]

Know the car's up in Lincolnshire, and dealers are sparse around - but you though of taking a day trip to somewhere like Peterborough to try another dealer?

The problem is getting the time off although Maggi's in Watford and they were just as useless. It looks like a hood dealership is hard to find. Its a shame the Vauxhall dealer down the road isn't reanult. They do my services and they are fantastic. Know me by first name, even though I've only been in a few times, and I trust their work. They know not to bull **** me as the guy I bought the car from now works there's and actually remembered me even though it was 3 Yeats ago!

 

[singlespeed]

After an afternoon of trawling for possible options, Citroen balljoints may be an answer. Well, they look like an answer. Whether they measure up and will fit the thread in the wishbone and have the correct size taper to the hub carrier, remains to be seen. Theres a few options to go through with them.

 

[Caz-133cup]

Neil if this works I will love you forever!

 

[Twingogangster83]

Whole RS 133 Community all over the World would luv u Neil

 

[singlespeed]

Tried two of the joints that the motor factors had in stock and neither of them match up.
FBJ5124 with 38mm thread (seems close to twingo size)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BALL-JOINT-LOWER-RH-CITROEN-BX19-1-9-1986-1986-5124-67-/111172261509?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19e2621685
Taper is too small


FBJ5276 with 40mm thread
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BALL-JOINT-LOWER-LH-CITROEN-XM-2-0-1989-1992-5276-1143-/300969190463?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item461329643f


FBJ5424
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BALL-JOINT-LOWER-RH-CITROEN-C4-1-4I-2004-5424-188-/290980197097?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43bfc572e9


FBJ5457
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BALL-JOINT-UPPER-LH-CITROEN-C6-2-2TD-2006-5457-535-/290980212595?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43bfc5af73
overall too large. Taper too big and screw thread too big

whilst I was at it, I took some measurements of the wishbone. Although I didn't remove the balljoint so couldn't confirm the thread diameter of pitch where it screws in the arm. The thing is rather tight and I was only using two bolts tightened in the vice to try and use these as a peg spanner to undo it

Small diameter

Large diameter

Aproximate length of engagement of taper in hub carrier

M12 x 1.25 thread

Probably a 40mm thread if the outside diameter could be measured

8mm pegs to be spaced as below pics

 

[singlespeed]

Where I thought my rubber was starting to split, it was just a manufacturing mark and not the start of a split

So, if anyone wants to try the other two joints for size and make up a 4-pin tool for un-screwing the original joint, please feel free to horse on :mrgreen: