Section 16: SUSPENSION
PA1562
19
3.12 BALL JOINTS
FIGURE 23: BALL JOINTS LOCATION 16137
3.13 LOWER AND UPPER A-ARM BALL
JOINT
The assembly work may be done only by a
recognized specialized workshop. Ensure that
old and new parts do not get mixed up with each
other. It is for this reason that all the old parts
are to be scrapped immediately after a joint has
been stripped down. A complete repair set must
be used for each joint repaired, i.e. use of only
part of a repair set is not permissible.
3.13.1 Inspection
Take off the load from the ball joint by lifting the
front of the vehicle. Apply a load on the joint in
all of the degrees of freedom in an axial, radial,
etc. sense with a suitable lever tool. After the
load is taken off, the joint has to spring back into
its starting position. Free play is not acceptable
.
Separation of rubber from ball pin or external
joint shell is in accordance with "normal wear
characteristics".
When the following characteristics are noted,
the joint is to be changed:
¾ Free play;
¾ Radial cracking of the external sheet-metal
race.
Ball pin
External joint shell
Radial cracking of the
sheet-metal race
Partial separation
is permitted
FIGURE 24: A-ARM BALL JOINTS 16173
3.13.2 Stripping Down
Strip down the defective joint through removal of
retaining ring, annular spacer and ball
pin/bushing, assembly and thereafter clean out
housing bore and locking circlips groove.