phil200tdi Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Is the A-Frame Ball joint an MOT item? I think mine has had it, could this cause an MOT fail? Also with my 235/85/16 tryes I'm scrubbing the radius arms on full lock, how do I adjust the steering stops? and again is this an MOT fail? cheers Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Yes and yes. A-Frame balljoint will fail under suspension component, and tyres rubbing on the radius arm will fail on steering (?). The lock stops are adjusted as follows - Jack both front wheels off the ground and turn the steering to full lock. One wheel will be on the lock stop, and the other will not. Slacken the 19mm head lock nut and undo the 19mm head bolt until the gap between the nearest edge of the tyre and the radius arm on that side is 25mm (an inch in old money). Turn the steering to the opposite lock and do the same. When you lower the vehicle back down, the gap will be reduced by more than half. If your steering wheel is then off-centre when the vehicle is in the straight ahead position, you may have to remove the steering wheel and re-centre it, but an off-centre steering wheel is not an MOT issue. The lock stop is the large bolt - below centre of this picture. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil200tdi Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 Yes and yes. A-Frame balljoint will fail under suspension component, and tyres rubbing on the radius arm will fail on steering (?). The lock stops are adjusted as follows -Jack both front wheels off the ground and turn the steering to full lock. One wheel will be on the lock stop, and the other will not. Slacken the 19mm head lock nut and undo the 19mm head bolt until the gap between the nearest edge of the tyre and the radius arm on that side is 25mm (an inch in old money). Turn the steering to the opposite lock and do the same. When you lower the vehicle back down, the gap will be reduced by more than half. If your steering wheel is then off-centre when the vehicle is in the straight ahead position, you may have to remove the steering wheel and re-centre it, but an off-centre steering wheel is not an MOT issue. The lock stop is the large bolt - below centre of this picture. Les. Thanks for this Les Any idea how much a garage would charge for the ball joint replacement? I may as well get the bushes done whilst its out... Cheers Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I don't know what a garage would charge - them being robbing swines 'n all £100 or less - parts and labour seems reasonable I suppose. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil200tdi Posted August 14, 2008 Author Share Posted August 14, 2008 I don't know what a garage would charge - them being robbing swines 'n all £100 or less - parts and labour seems reasonable I suppose.Les. Thanks, I'll see if it fails first... Will adjust the stops tomorrow tho... cheers Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinr Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 just read on another forum (can post link if needed) that the ball join can only be removed on a press (something about 48 tonnes of pressure was needed!!!) and it cost about £80 to remove the old and put in the new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 You can belt the old one out with a hammer, but the new one has to be pressed in to avoid damaging it. If you take the empty housing and the new joint to a garage, they will press it in for a tenner or so. I don't know about 48tons - most garages only have a 15-ton floor standing press and in my experience this is more than enough to do the job. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardener_44 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I done my A frame joint, with my 10 ton bench press, it went in no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegibbs Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I changed one on a 1994 disco only last week, £18 for the ball joint but what a pig to remove, first had to cut long bolts off, then chisel the castle nut in half then hammer and press and heat to remove the ball. took best part of all day, would have cost a load in a garage. But like others have said it might be a lot easyer. Have fun Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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