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Topic: front suspension arms (Read 905 times) |
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NormanHall
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Scorpio-itis
 
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front suspension arms
« on: May 28th, 2010, 5:16am » |
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To pass MoT my car needed two lower suspension arms as the ball joints were shot. Ford price now £175 each, picked two up from Selby for £30 from dismantler. Question is has anyone tried to refurbish these ?, seems a pretty straight forward task.
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Simmo
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #1 on: May 28th, 2010, 6:40am » |
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We did have a member who was trying to source new components with a view to replacing the actual joint but nothing further has been heard. Tompion provided an old set for the work. I'm sure we would all be interested to hear of a successful 'mod'. Please let us know if you do have a go.
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NormanHall
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #3 on: May 28th, 2010, 8:39am » |
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ford direct, with VAT and carriage is same as dealer price
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NormanHall
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #5 on: May 29th, 2010, 9:19am » |
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I am suprised no one has done this before,
I sacrificed one arm and hacksawed and sectioned the ball joint in order to ensure that I had all the internals in one piece and understood the contents, then I set about to refurb the other.
1. Remove circlip from the rubber boot (small end) the large end shoud be left attached to the arm
2. Grind off the weld
3. Tap out the ball pin, with the cap and the yellow plastic cup
4. Clean up all parts,(a new rubber O ring inside will be needed as the OE will have gone hard and failed)
5. fit grease nipple to end cap
6. re-assemble all parts(any slack can be taken up by a steel washer between cap and yellow cup, the cup can be filed away to give correct clearance)
7.compress together with G clamp and reweld
8.Instantantly immerse in bucket of cold water.
The grey plastic insert is the culprit that wears, but even in the worst case there is sufficient material to work, and forever greasing should ensure the joint is OK.
A two penny piece of plastic means a spend od £175
about an hour in total to complete the job
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NormanHall
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #6 on: May 29th, 2010, 9:24am » |
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Highlander, I just read your previous post after I posted mine, but your on the same wavelength, obviously I wouldnt repair for anyone else because of insurance liability, but for your own needs that is something else.
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NormanHall
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #7 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 6:41am » |
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Ive just taken the (new) arms off and fitted grease nipples, just taken one hour start to finish
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gozz
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #8 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 8:25am » |
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Norman.
Surely it's a bit dodgy welding in the vicinity of plastic,the originals are peened in rather than welded I think.This is not an attempt to thwart your efforts,full marks for having a go,however to me this is not the method.
GOZZ.
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NormanHall
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #9 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 1:34pm » |
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The ones that Ive seen are welded made by TRW, and the thickness of metal plus a dowse in cold water does not get anywhere near hot enough to melt the plastic. Fitting grease nipplesto good arms only requires drilling the end cap, tapping it and fitting grease nipples
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Highlander
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13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #10 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 6:52pm » |
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Norman,
I'm not understanding what you are doing to actually fix the worn joint, surely if the plastic were filed it would have to be exactly shaped otherwise the joint would still be "worn"
I enquired about fitting grease nipples a long time ago but was informed it wasn't worth it as once the joint is worn thats it, greasing would only lessen the movement of the ball but it would still be worn
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:I give up !  Too much for an old boy!  |
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NormanHall
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Posts: 84
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #11 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 10:10pm » |
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The part that wears is the grey plastic insert, and even in a worn condition there is sufficient material to make contact with the pin, all that is happening in the worn condition is that the pin has up and down play between the grey plastic insert, and the yellow plastic bottom cup, removing the end cap and packing the void is the solution.
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NormanHall
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #12 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 10:12pm » |
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fitting grease nipples hopefully will prevent wear, as the wear occurs when the grease starts to act like grinding paste.
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Highlander
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13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
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Re: front suspension arms
« Reply #13 on: Jun 3rd, 2010, 10:32pm » |
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But surely the balljoint will still move albeit slower?
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:| I give up ! Too much for an old boy! |
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