Ball joint mounting bolts

[PatrickG]

After a little advice.

Im trying to replace my passenger side ball joint. I had the option of 12mm or 10mm holes in the replacement and went for 10mm (thought 12 were for sports, mines a 1.4).

However the bolts on my car atm are much larger, an 18mm spanner fits :S

These are the two bolts that hold the balljoint bracket to the wishbone.

There also seized solid.

Has anyone else come across this issue with the original bolts being bigger?

Also any advice on removing the seized ones.

* Can someone also confirm if I was right about the 12mm's being for rs models?

Cheers,

Patrick

 

[Budgie]

Regarding the seized ones, get yourself a breaker bar. They'll be pretty tight, but they will come off.

 

[Rob]

I have no idea on the 1.4, but I'd go for the 12mm bolts if yours are large to begin with, 12mm is the thread size, the bolt head size will be 17mm irrc, could be bigger though.

Oh and as Budge' says, they're not seized, they're just stiff.

 

[davo172]

12mm on sports would think yours are 10mm TBH mate .

 

[PatrickG]

Cheers for the info, ill grab a breaker bar tomorrow and have another go.

 

[Rob]

I think the 10's were re-designed to be 12's after they caused play and knocking due to the holes in the wishbone being 12mm.