Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

[alexbleubolt]

My 172 Cup Failed MOT today :

Anyone have a guide on to how to change this thing, i searched but there just lots of junk some people saying its easy etc.. i want a decent guide or set of instructions

Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) **DANGEROUS**

 

[Mark One]

It's the ball joint on the end of the track rod (the steering Rack). To remove the ball joint from the hub undo the litte securing nut then using a tap hammer give the hub a sharp tap. The ball joint has a taper on it so it slots into the hub dead tight. A sharp horizontal tap will release it.
If it's anything like the MK1s you can undo the little securing nut where the ball joint goes into the rack and then screw it out the rack. This will be the hard bit. Depending on the age/condition/rust down there, it's gonna be fairly jammed in. But if you can't get it out heating it with a blow torch then everything is still very easy to put back from there and a garage wouldnt charge you much for the job.
Parts are cheap.

 

[alexbleubolt]

sounds ok, not sure what you mean but it attatches to the hub, anyone got some photos, of what i need to unbolt and take to renault to get the correct part, as teh renault guy said there is 2 versions

 

[Mark One]

The Hub is the very Heavy Casted bit that is directly behind the wheel. It has the driveshaft going right through it. It has the bearing into it. The susension stut is clamped in the top of it, the wishbone is in the bottom of it. it is "the HUB"

 

[Mark One]

Found this on some french web site
http://www.forum-auto.com/uploads/200602/ultranovice_1138842027_blocage_rotule.jpg

Hes got the mole grips around the ball joint (the black rubber bit protects it)
Notice it's connected into the hub and the securing nut is only just on there.
You'd need to tap the hub at a horizontal angle just above the rubber bit.
If you look back up the component then you see how the ball joint connects to the track rod.
There is a little securing bolt poking off the track rod loosen that then screw the ball joint out using a spanner

 

[bmh.01]

They were about £7 from a local factors when I changed them on the 1.6, I imagine renault want silly money for them?

The car will possibly need tracking afterwards depending how careful you are.

 

[Mark One]

yeah, It will need tracking
Just get your parts from eurocar parts or somewhere. No need to bother with reno

 

[alexbleubolt]

ok thanks i can undo the bolt next to the hub (the ball joint) , how do i get the bit off thats on the arm ? (the shiny black bit in my photo) It feels stuck solid, i tried turning that nut thats the other (where the thread is showing on the right hand side) but it wont budge and my spanner slips off and i dont' want to thread it ? or does the whole long arm bit come out ?

 

[alexbleubolt]

i am assuming this is would be the failed ball joint (well the one of the other side but i took this wheel of as it was easier for me to see how to change them) , as this mot thing isn't very clear "track rod end ball joint has excessive play" reading some otehr posts, i see there may be a second ball joint inside the gaiter at the other end ? could this be the worn one, which one is worn WTF ?

 

[Mark One]

Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) - is what you said.
Offiside is always the side furthest from the curb - meaning drivers side
Near side is curb side - passenger side

By the looks of that you are defo attacking it right. The spanner does go on the track rod, and the other spanner does go on the ball joint.

I tried to attack one of these myself once and ended up giving up. I was told buy someone on this forum that i would need to:
"blow torch/gas lamp, can get them from B&Q etc under a tenner, get propane gas, make the trackrod red (literally) and turn with some mole grips, turns with ease then."

I would have thought that would expand the track rod = bad
personally i would heat the bit of the ball joint painted black in your photo

 

[alexbleubolt]

Yes i know my o/s and n/s thats why i put "(well the one of the other side but i took this wheel of as it was easier for me to see how to change them) "

Anyways i have managed to undo the Nut on the arm, (pointed at by photo below) but i cannot pull the shiny black part off, i don't want to stick a blow torch down there due to the plastic wings and the gaiters etc.. I am assumint this bit should just pull off ? as the nut determines the tracking right ?

How about if i leave it with a loose nut (the nut below) tighten the ball joint back up then just drive the car around my road a bit doign lots of hard turnning to pull the thing loose ?

 

[Mark One]

you will need to screw the ball joint out (physically rotating the whole ball joint)

 

[alexbleubolt]

or do i just turn this bit (where the spanner is) with the nut loose ?

 

[alexbleubolt]

but if i turn the ball joint the whole arm bit turns as well ?

 

[Mark One]

yeah the track rod will rotate if you like, or just rotate the ball joint component

 

[Mark One]

yeah, you need to stop that by turning one or the other to screw the joint out of the track rod arm

 

[alexbleubolt]

do i need to put the car on axel stands ? as at the moment i onyl have 1 side jacked up

 

[alexbleubolt]

i go give it a try

 

[bmh.01]

Try to not move the nut too much so you can get a rough idea of tracking back again when you screw it back on.

Blowtorch may be necessary but i'd soak it in some penerating/releasing oil first.

 

[mark989]

wrong guide inserted! edited oops.

 

[alexbleubolt]

Thanks for the help guys
shite yeah that was easy the thing just turns off. So is this the only ball joint on these 172's ? that causes this MOT fail ? "Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) "

i have been told for the last 2 years that they both are worn a bit, and don't want to go replacing just these if there is other parts i should replace.

The car did only fail on one, but as they have been telling me for years that they are both worn, i want to get them both fixed, but dont want to replace the wrong part

 

[Mark One]

mark, that's the wrong ball joint.
This guy needs his track rod end replaced not the wishbone ball joint. Good lil doc tho

 

[Mark One]

if you wanna do both. do both. I would, they are only cheap. Make sure you get it proffessionally tracked once your done.

 

[TomTom]

Erm, those picks are showing you removing the NEARSIDE track rod.


Whoever linked to this guide above thats the Ball Joints not the track rods.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=263288&highlight=Ball+Joint

 

[alexbleubolt]

So i will take this one to renault tomorrow and order one for each side, the guy said there are 2 different versions, thats why i wanted to take one off to bring in and make sure they order the correct ones (thats why i took the n/s off, as its easier to do in my garage)

as i have a free MOT retest within 10 days

 

[alexbleubolt]

I don't care which side, i removed one now, i am changing both and the near side is easier to do in my garage, lol, Thanks feel free to use my photos to make a nice easy guide.

 

[alexbleubolt]

took the other side of 15min job (including removing the wheel and jacking the car up). Easy job once you know what to do. thanks for the help Point8

 

[Nafoff]

lost..........lol

think my ball joints gone too.

 

[alexbleubolt]

I have fitted the new rod ends, and had alighment re-done. What torque setting should i have done the track end ball joint nut up to ?

 

[alexbleubolt]

BUMP What torque setting should i have done the track end ball joint nut up to ?