Split ball joint

Muscle750

What car have you got i have come across particualary on Fords (fiestas escorts etc) the pinch bolt can corrode and lead to the ball joint coming out the bottom of the hub carrier resulting in the suspension collapsing when a car is MOTed it is only regarded as roadworthy on that day it is tested .

scorched

It's a Suzuki Alto. I'm taking the car into the garage today for them to look at. I think it was the pinch bolt that the mechanic who helped me at the scene basically took out of the socket, it wasn't just untightened, it just looked like it had been placed in the socket and left.

forgotmyname wrote: »

Having the wheels re-aligned with a worn joint was a waste of money.

The slight play may have lasted until the next MOT without issue. But you got the alignment done which
could have put the joint in a worse position that 3 weeks previously at the MOT.

An MOT after the adjustment may have failed.

Any slight wear or noise on the suspension should be investigated and changed immediately.

The garage recommended I had the realignment done when I had the tyres changed... so was this mis-sold to me as well as them doing a botch job?

Oh and the MOT was after the realignment. The order was:

-Tyres were changed (I knew they'd need changing to pass MOT)
-Realignment was done (garage said no point getting tyres changed if realignment not done at the same time)
-While they had the car up to do these things, I asked them to see if there were any other obvious MOT failures, they noticed the gaitors. They recommended to have the MOT done then get anything else that needed doing to pass, all done at the same time... in case it was a lot of things in which case I wouldn't bother.
-MOT done, failed, gaitors done (nothing else needed doing), MOT passed

rodenal

Were your tyres unevenly worn causing the need for replacement or had they just worn down towards the limit evenly? If unevenly worn then yes replacement without getting the tracking done would be a bit daft - if they were worn evenly then, imo you were spun a line.

scorched

rodenal wrote: »

Were your tyres unevenly worn causing the need for replacement or had they just worn down towards the limit evenly? If unevenly worn then yes replacement without getting the tracking done would be a bit daft - if they were worn evenly then, imo you were spun a line.

I had the back two wheels replaced due to age, the front left wheel was unevenly worn.


Just got back from the garage and they pretty much held their hands up and apologised for the loose bolt. They refilled the gear oil and realigned the wheels as a gesture of goodwill. They gave it a good check over and couldn't find any damage.

I guess I'm just lucky it happened where it did, thanks for the replies everyone

Limey

Glad it's all worked out for you and the garage sorted it without any argument. :cool:

Safe motoring.

Chris