LOWER BALL JOINTS

[neilr]

I have been fighting with trying to get lower ball joint back into the hubs. anyone got any advice on how its done. Ive got the gearbox back in but what a job this has turned out to be. Hope this isnt a sign of whats to come!

[gazza82]

Run a search, I'm sure there was a set of posts recently with various suggestions ... but I agree it's a PITA and I've got one to do next week.

[neilr]

Finally got ball joints in. Had to compress o/s coil spring now that wont go back properly. Speedo isnt working either.

[Capncol]

Is it the original box repaired or a replacement and what year car?

[neilr]

the original box had a hole in the diff casing. This threw the oil causing the failure. The new clutch however was not contaminated luckily. I found a 2nd hand replacement from a salvage dealer 30 minutes from me. The car is 2002 1.6 in silver with black leather cant remember the miles but quite lowish. If I can get that spring back this Saturday this will still be a cheap car. I managed to drive this back from Havant with the box
whining away. Despite the noise the car drove really well. Much better that the 206 hatchback my daughter currently has. She is now getting itchy to use her new one though. I must say that doing the lower joints on the 1.4 206 hatchback was a doddle. I managed to start it ant the "new" box is fine. Just need to bleed the system to get the clutch right. l left the slave intact to try and save this job but despite clamping the pipe air seems to have entered system. Thats a brief history so far. I dont know if the previous owner used this forum but I assume not otherwise I am sure they would have found a cheap repair. Look forward to keeping in touch. I will need to do cambelt but think Ill wait for warmer weather.

[gazza82]

Finally got ball joints in. Had to compress o/s coil spring now that wont go back properly.

Been there, done that ... never again. Ended up taking strut off to get spring remounted properly!

I did a lower arm today, so have a look at my recent post ... I use a long piece of 4"x2" hardwood to lever the arm down .. although today I also disconnected the driveshaft ... fun and games!

Speedo isnt working either.

Also, I think the speedo is driven off the gerabox, but it may also need the abs on the wheels so if you damaged the abs sender when you changed the arm, that might take out the speedo.