Lower ball joints 1987 Syncro

[RichardF]

Hi.
I fitted new lower ball joints, from Just Kampers, in October last year. Have done 6000 (gentle) miles since then.
They are fitted in adapters to pressed steel lower wishbones, early system I believe. Carefully installed by pressing in after cleaning and painting the adapters.
The van had its CT (French MOT) yesterday, and the guy told me the lower joints had vertical play in them, although this was not a reason for failure.
I found it hard to believe, so jacked up each side in turn and lifted the adapter with a hydraulic jack.
There is about 1mm of vertical movement in both joints. Also the LHS one has leaked a lot of grease, I guess via the pressed-in cap. The RHS also has a small amount of grease leaked around the top edge.
It never occurred to me to check vertical play after installing, so I don't know if there was any to start with.

Does anyone know what the vertical play, if any, should be? I can't believe the joints can be shot in such a short time, but I'm not happy about the grease leakage.

Just Kampers don't have anyone there who knows, because of the snow. They suggest returning them, but I really don't fancy having to do that job again so soon!

Dick

[Aidan]

Richard
hi, there should be no play, and no split boot, yours sound like they would fail uk mot, if they aren't genuine or Lemforder from Baxter I wouldn't fit them, as all other ball joint brands seem to fail in quick order on syncros, eg Meyle, CoFap etc...
The collars that the ball joints fit into aren't early system that's the way they are on all syncros, cast uprights with hardened collars between the ball joint and the cast metal
very few of the uk syncro boys and girls buy anything from JK we tend to use VW or Brickwerks in order to get "for quality" parts

[RichardF]

Thanks Aidan,
I feared that would be the reply. I'll never buy them from JK again. Unbelievable they are shot after less than 6000 miles. I don't suppose there is any point in trying to get anything out of JK, especially as it's over a year since I bought them.
I'm sorry I changed them now, the old ones were OK and I could have just replaced the boots - if I could have found them, I did try.
There are no split boots. Grease is leaking from below the metal disc seal at the top. I assume there is supposed to be a rubber seal ring below it.
Do any replacement joints have grease nipples fitted?
No-one seems to like grease nipples any more. I had my main driveshaft UJs replaced by my favourite Spanish machine shop. He fitted GKN UJs with grease nipples and also balanced it. I'm much happier being able to give it a squirt of grease every year or so.
The machine shop was started by his Grandfather, but he said he can only get work now if he can beat delivery time of new parts, and doubts if his son will continue the business.
Dick

[Rogue Trooper]

I fitted JC lower ones a couple of weeks ago, now reading all the stories I will regret it!

Knowing it has only about 5000 miles is rubbish and now false economy.

JC's are about £13 = 6000 miles

BW are about £25 = at least 60,000

[RichardF]

Just Kampers have told me they have not had any of these joints returned in the last 5 years, as far back as they can check.

After closer inspection, and some consideration, I have come to the following conclusions:

It is impossible for grease to leak from the top of the joints. The grease there is what I put on the drive shafts before they were pushed back into the hubs, the surplus just dropped down onto the joints.

The joints probably have a polymer insert, which compresses under load, resulting in the 30 to 40 thou (< 1 mm) of vertical play when the vehicle is lifted. They have probably been like that since the day they were installed. The joints are loaded, i.e. the full weight of the front end sits on them, and the play will only appear if the vehicle is lifted - or if it is airborne - so is not significant.

I'm leavng them as they are, will check them from time to time.

[..lee..]

i`ve been there and done that. rebuilt my front end 3 years ago ish and the cheepo ball joint had play in them pretty soon afterwards. there was no play when i fitted them and after leaving them in thinking the same as you they got worse and you could start to hear them bump on the road. lemforder joints have been good since.

[RichardF]

Thanks Lee, although not what I wanted to hear!

They will have to stay on for now. I managed to get 4 cars in the garage for the winter, the Ro80 is over the pit and the rest of the space is full of building material for the house. It would take half a day to move everything out into the street. Meantime I'll keep a close eye on them until the weather warms up..