Top Ball Joint - Front Suspension.

GRTV8

GRTV8

Well-Known Member
My '72 P6b failed her WOF today .
A small amount of play in the top ball joint . I would have passed it - but no , the man with the clip board and white coat had his way .
No worries I thought as I have a new one in my vast shed
I managed to get the old one off with a few healthy whacks , but now can't get the new one to fit down in the housing .
Whack Whack Whack about the base of the new ball joint and she won't settle down enough to get any purchase with the three bolts .
Is heat the way to go ? or am I missing something
 
Hi Gerald,

Sorry to hear that your Rover didn't pass.

You could use a file and lighly chamfer on the base end of splines. I am only talking a mm or two around the circumference, nothing more. This should allow the joint to sit a touch lower so as to allow the three bolts to engage.

Alternatively, put the ball joint in the freezer overnight. The temperature reduction may well be sufficient to facilitate fitment with ease.

Ron.
 
Ball joint in the freezer and heat the top of the leg. DONT file the bottom of the ball joint you will bugger up the splines and make it harder to fit. Make sure the hole in the leg is perfectly clean and a small spray of WD40 will help.
 
Dangermouse wrote,..."DONT file the bottom of the ball joint you will bugger up the splines and make it harder to fit."

I have never experienced this! When carried out correctly, fitment is aided, not hindered.

Ron.
 
I've never had problems fitting top joints. You can use longer bolts to line it up, but don't file the splines or heat the leg.
 
I usually warm the leg, so you can still handle it, so not heat it exactly. Certainly drop the joint in the freezer for an hour or so first though, then don't mess around with it, get it in there quickly or the temperatures will very soon equalise. I must admit though, that I've neevr had a problem with the top ones. Don't get me started on the lower one:eek:
 
Well Ive taken aboard all your advise and can say your collective knowledge got the ball joint back into its socket .
I now have a new WOF and picked up a few admirers whilst at the testing station .
One retired Old bloke used to recondition Rover 2000 motors back in the day , and a young fella proudly informed me he had just purchased a "vintage" Mitzi Gallant circa 76 and was surprised a Rover had a V8.
Thanks for all your input.
Gerald
 
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