HR SEALED BALLJOINT WARNING

Includes shock absorbers, springs and steering linkages.

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ben
Posts: 514
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:34 pm
State: NOT ENTERED
Location: perth

HR SEALED BALLJOINT WARNING

Post by ben »

Got a phone call from the boss yesterday a 5.30pm (peak hour) saying the front RH wheel etc has collapsed :thumbsdown: (really lucky she was not doing any speed ), and she's stuck in a single lane entry to a round-a-bout, Keane st/The Crescent in Midland...for the locals. Call a tow truck, round up a few tools and kids :roll: and head over there. The lower ball joint has failed completely i.e. the joint has left the joint housing :shock: . Manage to use the trolly jack to get the car of the road, and flat bed tow the poor old girl home.
I completely rebuilt the front end 5-6 yrs ago and the LH lower ball joint is re-greasable but the RH side is/was a pre sealed unit i.e. non re-greasable. Pick up 2 new 're-greasable' ball joints today and just finished fitting them up. The LH was as good as new (and regularly greased) but replaced anyway, and the RH was f&^%ed. Does not look like it had any grease inside from the day it was made.
I do not drive the car much, but always from when it first hit the road found the steering 'not quite right'. It was heavy and did not self centre nicely on the move. Anyway its now a new car to drive. Steerings much lighter and self centres nicely.
So my warning is do NOT use non-greasable ball joints on HR front ends. It could just be mine was faulty from new, but at least with greasable joints you know there's some grease in them....if you regularly grease them :roll:

Time for a beer.... enjoy your Australia day long weekend fellas :thumbsup:
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Blacky
Posts: 14238
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:58 am
State: WA
Location: up in the Perth hills

Re: HR SEALED BALLJOINT WARNING

Post by Blacky »

bloody lucky it didnt happen 5 minutes later fanging down the Roe highway ....................... :wtf:

can you remember what brand it was ? When I rebuilt my '64 Chev we got sent some replacement steering arms that folded in half as I was reversing down my driveway !!!!!!! Chinese shit .......... :evil:
I started with nothing and still have most of it left.


Foundation member #61 of FB/EK Holden club of W.A.
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ben
Posts: 514
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:34 pm
State: NOT ENTERED
Location: perth

Re: HR SEALED BALLJOINT WARNING

Post by ben »

Good point Blacky...just dragged it out the bin.....brand..... 'KING TING' :shock: . Can't remember where i bought it from, must of had to shop around as there both different. The LH was TRW and the 2 new ones are TRW.

So don't install 'KING TING' brand sealed ball joints

You can see by the wearing why the steering must of been so tight. She kept on moaning about power steering and i just told her to toughen up :lol:


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