posted 07-10-2004 04:03 PM                  

I was putting on my ceramic brakes and when the rotors were off, I noticed that the lower (passenger front) ball joint had a good tear on the rubber seal. It's been torn for a while it seems..... and I would never had noticed it unless I was putting on ceramic brakes. I took the rotors off to clean them and noticed the tear was fairly large. I'll post pics when I get a chance to upload my camera.

I can't beleive I only have 11,000 miles on this car and need to have the ball joints replaced TWICE already! It's only bad on one side...for now. I don't know how many miles I have driven with it like this...and how many more I could have driven until my wheel falls off? WTF? Good thing I love this car more than a person should...

I'll post pics of the torn boot in a day or 2. It's a good shot with the rotor removed.

Have your front lower ball joints inspected periodically....

Just because they were replaced doesn't mean the boot can't tear again. You'll see when I get the pic up in this thread.

posted 07-11-2004 10:09 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by CJ:
I was wondering the same thing butchee asked...........maybe you just didn't notice it when you got the cat back from the first replacement??

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It's not likely IMO. It's a fairly large tear/ hole in the boot facing directly to you when you look right at it. Hard to miss when the rotor is off, and I was standing right there alongside the mechanic when the recall was performed at the time....I would have caught it then (I think). The only factor that MAY be unique to my situation is that my ball joints were one of the early ones that were overtorqued due to a manual error. COULD that have been a factor????

To be honest, it looks like the boot of the lower ball joint got pinched somehow in the control arm. The damage is more than a tear really, It's more of an elongated "hole" that looks caused by wear than tearing upon installation. I'll post pics On Tuesday when I get into work to upload my pics. You'll see what I'm talking about hopefully.

I may be panicking a bit, but I really think the lower front boots can tear (over and over) due to the friction of the control arms and this can be a recurring problem that DC hasn't solved completely with the recall.

I realize this is a controversial statement, and noone else has yet claimed to have a replaced ball joint boot tear, BUT how many of us has had their rotors off and inspected their ball joints since the recall was performed??? Just because you haven't looked for it doesn't mean it's not there.

That's the purpose of this thread, not to create a panic but I'm suggesting.....INSPECT YOUR FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BOOTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. The boot is still made of rubber just like the ones they replaced...it's not like they invented some new cover material for it.

It's just like when I first posted about my MTD intake separating from it's base and told people to inspect theirs...I've heard a LOT of people who since had their MTD intake separate from the base due to improper gluing...Some from people who never post here. (Met a Prowler owner just this past Friday who had it happen....he never posts here but is a POA member.)

I may be the first to post about finding a problem with the replaced ball joints, but I'll bet money I won't be the last. I'm just trying to keep the car safe....for everybody.

posted 07-11-2004 09:27 PM                  

quote:

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were overtorqued due to a manual error. COULD that have been a factor??

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posted 07-12-2004 03:12 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Black Tie 161:
It's just like when I first posted about my MTD intake separating from it's base and told people to inspect theirs...I've heard a LOT of people who since had their MTD intake separate from the base due to improper gluing...

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Yes, I'll agree with that - I didn't have ANY TROUBLE AT ALL with the MTD intake until you mentioned it. I blame you ever since for the occurrence. Obviously, cosmic forces at work.

posted 07-12-2004 04:05 PM                  

The agreed consensus is...... the most possible cause of the lower ball joint tearing is a road hazard. I think it is even possible to get a branch caught in your wheel for example, and have it scrape that lower boot enough to tear. The manual clearly states to periodically inspect your lower ball joints for boot tearing! So it apparently something that CAN happen from everyday driving and is even anticipated in the manual...(section 2).

The original ball joint recall was for preventing possible corrosion between dissimilar metals resulting from the plastic shield failing on the ball joint. My problem is another animal....The boot on the ball joint is torn from a road hazard, but now the ball joint will eventually be exposed to corrosion anyway, so I have a problem on my hands as this is a potential safety issue.

So I tried not to panic throughout the thread, but I think the basic message is still the same. Inspect your lower ball joint boots for tearing from time to time.

posted 07-12-2004 04:39 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by butchcee:
A set of replacement ball joints for the recall is only about $37.00 bucks for a pair. Why not just replace the boot off a new one? Should be easier then having to replace the whole joint.You can inspect and grease before reassembling. You gotta stop that off-roading.

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It sounds too good to be true....is that really possible? I don't know how to fill a "sealed" ball joint with grease, or replace just the boot and make it hold permanently. It's nice to know the ball joints themselves are cheap, but to press them out of the control arms is a real pain. I'm debating parts cost vs. labor at this point. My service manager is promising to do what he can when I send him pics of the tear tomorrow, but I think I'm on my own on a road hazard issue.

posted 07-12-2004 05:45 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Black Tie 161:
(1)so I have a problem on my hands as this is a potential safety issue.

(2)The agreed consensus is...... the most possible cause of the lower ball joint tearing is a road hazard. . . . The worst part is this is going to cost me money out of pocket....

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(1) I had a very ripped ball joint boot at one time. I just kept it very greased, and never had a problem. It's not an immediate safety issue, it will take quite a while for any water to get through the grease and to the joint itself.

(2) Are you sure it's not covered under extended warranty? The part is covered, not sure that "looks like road hazard" is enough to void that. In any case, what's your insurance coverage? In my case, in Virginia, this would be covered under Comprehensive under the missile clause. I have zero-deductible and Comprehensive is not experience rated, i.e., my rates don't go up and I'm not subject to cancellation.

???

-GRROWL

posted 07-13-2004 07:23 AM                  

BTW: If I remember correctly, the UPPER ball joint torque specs were revised from 95 to 65, BUT the lower ball joint was still to be torqued at 95. ONLY the uppers were revised.

I KNOW I could change out the ball joint myslef if I only had some of the tools needed, like the big C-clamp to press it out.

posted 07-13-2004 07:52 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by butchcee:
I think the lower spec is 70--upper 65.

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Either way, I am leaning to your cheapo boot fix......Look! use #1002 for Duct Tape!

posted 07-13-2004 08:26 AM                  

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posted 07-13-2004 09:25 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by pumpkin:
Here are the numbers of all the torque settings of the front suspension. These are from the service manual. Hope this helps. http://www.zianet.com/SLlover/page60a18.html

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Yup...that's it. 95 bottom, 65 at the top.

BTW: I just talked to a friend who seriously suggested duct tape....Hmmmmm....

posted 07-13-2004 09:33 AM                  

I'm confused--your figures show N.m. and ft lbs.
It's 65 Ft lbs top and 70 Ft lbs bottom.
that would be 88 N.m. top and 95 N.M bottom as Norm posted.

posted 07-13-2004 10:20 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by butchcee:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Black Tie 161:
[B] Yup...that's it. 95 bottom, 65 at the top.

I'm confused--your figures show N.m. and ft lbs.
It's 65 Ft lbs top and 70 Ft lbs bottom.
that would be 88 N.m. top and 95 N.M bottom as Norm posted.

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Sorry Butchee, you're right. I'm talking apples and oranges at the same time. My mistake!