Ball joints in front suspension?

[Luke]

Forgive my ignorance, but what are they, where are they and how do I replace them?! Cheers

[Luke]

My God, do they even exist...?

[Jesus325iTouring]

I'll give you a basic reply................

There are two ball joints,both are pressed in,needing a press to replace them.

Most peoples choice is,if one needs doing,change the whole wishbone they are on,they aren't terribly pricey and it's a much easier way to sort out knackered joints,as the wishbone comes complete withem already fitted.

HTH
Rog

Edit: Thats two balljoints per side.

[Simon]

Here they are!!

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[Andy335Touring]

The first two pictures are your ball joints and they are fixed to your wisbones(third pic).I don't think you can replace the ball joints separately,you have to replace the whole wishbone ?

I bought two new wishbones from Euro Car Part for sixty odd quid.

[Andy335Touring]

Sorry Simon/Rog,i was busy uploading those pictures and didn't notice your post

[Simon]

Always good to have some real life pics!!

I assume that one has been off the car for quite a while??

It is possible to buy the balljoints seperate, and get them pressed out/in, but IMHO I don't see the point because if one is worn, then the rest can't be far behind, also a good chance to change the track control arm bush too!

[Jesus325iTouring]

The ball joints can be changed if needed,its just a hassle.
On my first 325,i had one changed and it cost me a £10 to have it pressed on (the old one took 10 ton of pressure to get it to shift!)
About £10 for the joint itself.
And then the hassle of being driven back and fortht o the engineers who pressed it.

Now you can see why it's better and more cost effective to replace the whole wishbone.

[Jesus325iTouring]

Sorry Simon/Rog,i was busy uploading those pictures and didn't notice your post

Apologies not needed Andy,as Simon said,realife pics are always good to see

[Andy335Touring]

I changed the wishbones and the TCA bushs today,the ball joint gaitors are split because i used one of those fork ball joint splitters,but i wasn't worried because they were only going in the bin.

[Luke]

Cheers guys appreciate it muchly you rock! Would this account for my steering being a bit squidgey? Not play exactly as the wheels turn with the slightest input but incrementally like the collumn is attached to the rack with a piece of spongey rubber...!

[Jesus325iTouring]

Cheers guys appreciate it muchly you rock! Would this account for my steering being a bit squidgey? Not play exactly as the wheels turn with the slightest input but incrementally like the collumn is attached to the rack with a piece of spongey rubber...!

Sounds like my steering!

And yes it probably would account for spongy steeringness

[Simon]

Cheers guys appreciate it muchly you rock! Would this account for my steering being a bit squidgey? Not play exactly as the wheels turn with the slightest input but incrementally like the collumn is attached to the rack with a piece of spongey rubber...!

This could be down to a worn bush in the lower steering column linkage, take a look down by the exhaust manifold, there should be a rubber bush there linking the column with the steering rack this can cause the sluggish feeling you mention.