lower arm ball joint

[x DTR x]

Hi all

My V50 2005 2.0l D had it's mot today and i had an advisory on the nearside lower arm ball joint. In a way, i'm glad they noticed it as iv'e had an annoying clonk from that area and at least it's now been identified! Anyway, I'm quite handy at doing most repairs until they get a bit technical and wondered if replacing the lower arm was an easyish job?

Many thanks for any replies

[cheshired5]

Control arms are pretty simple affairs to replace but control arm balljoints aren't always part of the arm itself. Some are a stand alone part attached to the hub and they pass through the arm.
Do you know what sort you have?

[Rooster]

Fairly straight forward job, complete arm change,

Rear bush in bolted to subframe with 2 bolts that are adjustable in holes so would be advisable to paint mark before removing so you have something to line upto with new arm,

Save having to get a 4 wheel alingment done after changing arm

[x DTR x]

Thanks guys, i think i will replace the whole arm as not too expensive to buy and will make more sense in case any of the other bushes in the arm are getting worn too. Thanks too for the advice on marking the position of the old one before removal!

Many thanks again.

[paddyred]

I've just done both sides on mine as the rubber bushes seem to go! Only thing I would say is get a proper ball joint separator (I used the scissor type from ebay that I got for under £10 but I had to use a grinder to open up the little U shape bit so it would fit correctly) and make sure you buy the correct size ball joint pin when you order it! I got mine from a local motorfactors (paid £30 a side) and then realized I had the larger size taper on the vehicle but had the smaller pin on the arm! I would advise you to either take the old one off and check first or buy both small and large and then take the incorrect one back! at least that way you can be sure its right! Just as a note, It is a good idea to mark where the old one was but I didn't with mine and it didn't effect my tracking at all. I had the car 4 wheel tracked as when I was re-assembling it I snapped the track rod end taper thread by doing it up too tight! Other things to note would be:
Be careful when pulling the strut out the way to change the arm as it pulls on the drive shaft and it can pop out the gearbox making a bit of a mess. It just pushes back in but still! Also watch the thin metal plate on the back of the brake disc as it can be easily bent.
I took the car into protyre this week to get it tracked and get them to change the wheel bearing and they messed up the 4 wheel tracking the first time I went in so I could turn right hand bends with the steering wheel still to the left. Then after they did the wheel bearing when I took it back in for re-tracking they bent the little metal plate so it rubbed on the disc and made a horrendous noise. They also left a brake caliper hanger attached to the spring so it almost ripped the ABS cable out the sensor when I jacked it up to see what the noise was!

[x DTR x]

Hi thanks paddyred for all the info and things to watch, sounds like this protyre is far from pro going by the probs you've had!