172 cup ball joints

[scott_172_cup]

Hi folks, wonder if anyone can help me, Ive just replaced the passenger bottom ball joint and the bolts that came with the new ball joint are 12mm and the ones on my car are only 10mm.

Ive done a lot of reading past threads about ball joints and see that everyone seems to say that RS wishbones use 12mm bolts.

I have fitted the new ball joint with the original 10mm bolts as the new ones wont fit through the holes in the wishbones but is this adviseable? I dont want to be altering the geometry any.

Thanks in advance,

Scott.


PS. Would making the wishbone holes bigger be an option or a bit too much of a bodge?

 

[maynard]

Pretty sure they're meant to be 12mm ball joints....will check Monday thoguh but 99.9% sure they are.

 

[scott_172_cup]

Well I deffinately have a 172 cup and the 12mm bolts dont fit lol

Its just my bloody luck

 

[Fred@BTM]

so the orignal 12mm bolts don't fit the new ball joint?

 

[scott_172_cup]

No, the bolts I took out of the original ( well I think they are original as they are very old looking) are 10mm. The ones I got in the new BJ kit are 12mm as I am reading they should be. I find this very confusing, its my first clio ( im used to peugeot's mainly)

So I have re-used the 10mm ones as they fit through the 2 holes in the wishbone but am worried that the BJ will slip as there will be 2mm of difference all round.

 

[Fred@BTM]

172/182 are 12mm, something's not right there!

 

[scott_172_cup]

Tell me about it, its just typical, nothing is ever simple. Im wondering if its needed wishbone bushes at some point and someone has just gone out and bought any kind of wishbone?

Do lesser non-sport models have the same kind of ARB? or are there holes for both on every wishbone?

 

[scott_172_cup]

The plot thickens. The drivers side had 12mm bolts.

 

[Ollieeee]

Should definitely be 12mm, replaced mine today. Probably the wrong wishbone!

 

[scott_172_cup]

Bloody bodgers

 

[Fred@BTM]

non sport lower arms are completley different to RS items (where the ARB attaches) just get a new arm, comes with ball joint and is about £55 per side from the dealer

 

[marcushookdale]

^^^^ job done.

 

[scott_172_cup]

Already done now and seems fine. Gonna wait until ive fitted my apex springs, TRE's and pure topmount/strutbrace combo until I get the allignment checked but it seems quite a bit tighter now

 

[Fred@BTM]

your going to ruin all that hard work by fitting Apex springs? madness

 

[sideways danny]

I recon thats had williams arms fitted

 

[renclio182]

Thanks Fred, luckily I did some research first and saw all you guys slate them so I have just ordered some Eibach sportlines instead

Danny, the drivers side was "normal"? with 12mm holes so that side was fine. Ever since I got the car though, Ive noticed that the passenger side has sat slightly higher than the drivers side. I'm now starting to wonder if someone has replaced the full suspension on the pass side for a non cup setup.

Anyway, it will all be sorted soon enough

 

[scott_172_cup]

Thanks Fred, luckily I did some research first and saw all you guys slate them so I have just ordered some Eibach sportlines instead

Danny, the drivers side was "normal"? with 12mm holes so that side was fine. Ever since I got the car though, Ive noticed that the passenger side has sat slightly higher than the drivers side. I'm now starting to wonder if someone has replaced the full suspension on the pass side for a non cup setup.

Anyway, it will all be sorted soon enough