ID this please

Can anyone tell me what this ball joint is called please?? Just failed the MOT on it and need to order a new one but dont know what to ask for??

Many thanks

Adam

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/9/20110702114216.jpg/

Is it the steering arm ball joint

eg. steering arm ball joint | eBay UK

Just been searching and seems to be called a drop arm ball joint. Hope that is the right one!!

Yep! Steering drop arm ball joint. You can get a refurb kit for about a tenner. The hard bit is getting the arm off to change out the joint. I had to do mine on the motor which is no fun at all.

Cheers. Jut ordered one now as nowhere around here sells them. Is it easier to try and remove the whole arm and change it off the vehicle?

Its easier if you can get the arm off but I broke my puller trying to do so. They have a habit of seizing to the splines. You cant really warm the arm up as it fries the seals in the steering box. Some peeps have had to cut the arm off and fit a new one. The ball joint can be changed on the motor but it is right awkward and makes cleaning things up interesting. Hardest bit is getting the circlip back in that holds the joint together. I used a bottle jack and socket to GENTLY squeeze the ball joint closed while I fitted the circlip. Make sure the groove is clean or the clip will never go back in its seat properly.

use jack and 12mm dia long bolt or 1/2 inch socket extension to press up disc in bottom of arm remove circlip if tight tap ends of circlip inwards to free it first ,remove spring ball joint etc clean arm and you need to make a puller out of 12mm flange bolt or similar ground to fit through top of arm but big enough to catch ball joint seat and wind out with nut and big washer on bottom this is hardest part ,new seat will tap up with suitable socket,it isnt much easier with arm off vehicle,as it is at least held firm while working on it ,apart from pullers which on their own wont remove stubborn arm hitting arm where it goes around sector shaft will allways get them off but large hammer and drift like halfshaft is required to stretch and so release taper joint,same principle as for removing track rod ends where you hit end of arm not joint and joint pops out undamaged,i do them too regulary

Thanks all. All being well I should be doing it on my day off on wednesday. Hope the weather holds out

Good luck, I changed the whole arm for mot and what a job. Ended up cutting it off with grinder. Have you seen the weather forecast for wednesday (getting colder and pouring down):hysterically_laughi

there no need to cut it off with suitable lump hammer and drift ive been doing them for 20-30 years and never had to cut one off yet,not a nice job but allways do able

If you have access to a welder just weld a 20mm run on the arm and normally the quick heat works. It doesn't damage the seal and you have something to hit with the hammer.