Is my A frame ball joint gone

I have a slight knocking noise every now and then from underneath happens weather I've got power on or off was thinking uj but seem OK is there anyway you can check to see if it could be a frame ball joint

If it sounds like a clunk from the rear when you let off and press the accelerator and you're certain its not a UJ then could very well be your a frame balljoint. #### of a job as well but if you get an adjustable one then it'll mean its done for a good long while

Check that it's not play between your halfshafts and drive flanges also

A-frame ball joint change isn't too difficult, simply remove large nut on axle, 2 long bolts on A-frame to fulcrum bolts and pull it out.
Cut the 2 'wings' with the bolt holes off the ball joint, then place in a vice etc with the fulcrum supported on each jaw (assuming the vice is nice and hefty) and belt it with a hammer. Plenty of plus gas and it should come out after a while.

You will most likely need a hydraulic press to fit the new one back in but most local garages should be able to do that for a few beer tokens.

Yeah I've checked the half shafts but they are only 6 months old so are all good think I will go with a new a frame joint as I know it's then been done changed nearly everything on it since I owned it so mite as well haha cheers lads for help.

I used one of Busters guides for the A-Frame ball joint renewal on mine:

Guide to Fitting Defender A-Frame Balljoint - Repair My Landrover

Not the easiest of jobs, but not technically challenging, just needs a fair bit of elbow grease!

Was thinking of just buying a whole new one instead of messing around with presses and hammers and just replace it with an adjustable one. Is there any particular ones I should look out for .

That's what I did as I didn't have the facilities to push the old one out. Bearmach do an adjustable one as do gwynn lewis. I (probably not very wisely) bought a complete adjustable made by britpart but I've had no problems with it yet.

Just had a look and the gwynn Lewis adjustable ball joint complete with fulcrum is 65 quid plus VAT

Just to add the gwynn lewis one has a grease nipple on top whereas my ****part one doesnt

Sometimes the balljoint doesn't want to come out of the bracket it's mounted in. There's a (blurry) picture here of my press registering 25 tons.

It started deforming the bracket but it wouldn't come out. So sometimes it's easier to get one of the complete balljoint and bracket units.

Gwynn Lewis one it is then will make the whole job a lot easier and alot less swearing . cheers for help.

Check your radius rod bush's and check for wear in the holes of the brackets on the axle which can also give your symptoms. Suitable washers tack welded to brackets to fix.

tottot said:

Check your radius rod bush's and check for wear in the holes of the brackets on the axle which can also give your symptoms. Suitable washers tack welded to brackets to fix.

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That's what I'm going to do tomorrow check everything incase it's a few things will give me something to do.

danny6801 said:

That's what I'm going to do tomorrow check everything incase it's a few things will give me something to do.

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That's the best way mate. No point guessing and only checking that one thing to see if you guessed right. Best to give it a good check over as if one part is worn out there could be others like you say.