Help!!!! Swivel Housing Bottom Joints....

[lsd1970]

Hi, can someone offer some advice please? My 197 Cup is ill and apparently needs new Swivel Housing Bottom Joints. Renault have quoted £398 just for the parts and said they are on back order so it could be up to ten working days. I know a little about cars but when I asked if they meant the ball joint, they said no? Can someone explain what the difference is between a ball joint and a swivel housing bottom joint for me please as I cant find any information on the web?

Also, why is it so expensive for a Clio - is it due to the Cup having a different chassis?

Many thanks guys
Lisa :dapprove:

 

[poobah]

Assume it's the same weak point as on the Megs and is the bottom swivel bearing that's knackered.

Steering stopped self centering by any chance?

 

[lsd1970]

Hi,

Still steering okay but on Sunday it sounded like something was dragging under the car and worse when turning to the left. Wondered at first if it was an extremely dry steering rack because the noise was horrendous. When I drove it to the garage yesterday (on a relatively straight road), it didnt seem too bad but they soon called to say it was the swivel housing bottom joint and although the n/s was worse, they both needed doing.

Thinking about it though, there was some pulling to the left when I let go of the steering wheel?? Do the Meg's have the same problem and are they just as expensive?

 

[poobah]

Hi,

Still steering okay but on Sunday it sounded like something was dragging under the car and worse when turning to the left. Wondered at first if it was an extremely dry steering rack because the noise was horrendous. When I drove it to the garage yesterday (on a relatively straight road), it didnt seem too bad but they soon called to say it was the swivel housing bottom joint and although the n/s was worse, they both needed doing.

Thinking about it though, there was some pulling to the left when I let go of the steering wheel?? Do the Meg's have the same problem and are they just as expensive?

Same problem, same expense. The Phase 1 Megs have it worse due to their age but it'll affect all Megs at some point along the line.

Worth having a check on Megsport as i'm sure someone was selling replacement swivel bearings for them. The dealerships say they're not available seperately and you have to buy the hole unit but some have gotten round it by cleaning out and repacking the existing bearing or replacing the bearing on its own.

 

[Gray]

Same problem, same expense. The Phase 1 Megs have it worse due to their age but it'll affect all Megs at some point along the line.

Worth having a check on Megsport as i'm sure someone was selling replacement swivel bearings for them. The dealerships say they're not available seperately and you have to buy the hole unit but some have gotten round it by cleaning out and repacking the existing bearing or replacing the bearing on its own.

Poobah is correct, you can buy the bearing sets and replace them... That is, if the originals haven't completely chewed up the swivel hub housing.

 

[lsd1970]

Thanks Poobah and Gray!

I suppose the main dealers (or stealers) never want to clean things out and make good unlike a reputable local garage and they are pretty thin on the ground near me! Renault did mention the hub housing so I suspect they are beyond repair if they have chewed that up too but cant understand how it can just suddenly go like it seems to have done?

Any other things I should look out for with the Clio? I did have problems 18 months ago with the synchro mesh and noticed other members on the Renault forum reporting the same thing. Car is a 58 so still fairly young?

 

[poobah]

58 is pretty young to get swivel bearing problems but not unheard of.

The thing is this problem is going to affect all Renaultsport cars which use the same hub arrangement. As far as my knowledge goes (correct me if i'm wrong Gray) it's all RS Megane 2's, all 197's and all 200's. Quite a number of cars really.

 

[Gray]

Thanks Poobah and Gray!

I suppose the main dealers (or stealers) never want to clean things out and make good unlike a reputable local garage and they are pretty thin on the ground near me! Renault did mention the hub housing so I suspect they are beyond repair if they have chewed that up too but cant understand how it can just suddenly go like it seems to have done?

Any other things I should look out for with the Clio? I did have problems 18 months ago with the synchro mesh and noticed other members on the Renault forum reporting the same thing. Car is a 58 so still fairly young?

Where do you live Lisa?

I would not be expecting to see those kind of problems on a 58 reg car.

 

[poobah]

Where do you live Lisa?

I would not be expecting to see those kind of problems on a 58 reg car.

We've had one Meg of that age on MS.net with swivel bearing problems if I recall Gray. Certainly seems very young for it to have written off both bearing housings though.

 

[lsd1970]

Hi Poobah & Gray

I live inbetween Leeds and Bradford and dont know of any reputable garages close by. I have only ever trusted Renault in Bradford where it is now. The car has done 30,500 miles and is a daily driver. I know I live near lots of speed bumps and the suspension is quite hard on the 197 so makes you wonder if it is just not up to the job?? Wonder why they changed the hub arrangement then because no-one with a 172 or 184 seems to be complaining?

 

[poobah]

Hi Poobah & Gray

I live inbetween Leeds and Bradford and dont know of any reputable garages close by. I have only ever trusted Renault in Bradford where it is now. The car has done 30,500 miles and is a daily driver. I know I live near lots of speed bumps and the suspension is quite hard on the 197 so makes you wonder if it is just not up to the job?? Wonder why they changed the hub arrangement then because no-one with a 172 or 184 seems to be complaining?

RS Tuning in Leeds. Paul owns the tuning side of RS Tuning but his dad's RS specialist garage could definately sort this for you and a good bit cheaper than a main dealer.

 

[lsd1970]

Many thanks, will give them a call. Appreciate it.

 

[lemonnobby]

Just to say 197 and 225/r26 use different hubs