steel arm ball joint replacment procedure
06-06-2003, 01:38 AM
#1
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steel arm ball joint replacment procedure
Checked the archives-mostly about aluminum arms-I remember someone posting the procedure for replacing the ball joint on the steel arms with out detaching them, but can't find it--help anyone-please! I have an '88 924S. also looking for wheel bearing(front) replacement procedure. help is appreciated. thanks
06-06-2003, 04:04 AM
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Regarding the front wheel bearing replacement, see in the Haynes manual, in the 1. chapter. Here are they taking out and regreasing the bearing as part off "touch up" procedure, it also tels how to adjust tighness off the bearing.
I changed the ball-joints on a 924 once, its the same as on the WV rabbit (Golf 1 in europe), beware there are two dimension, i think a 15mm and a 17mm. Measure the old ball joint pin, and by a cheap WV replacement part. I cost me arond $100, to change both A-arms, with new bushing, and new bll joint's.
I changed the ball-joints on a 924 once, its the same as on the WV rabbit (Golf 1 in europe), beware there are two dimension, i think a 15mm and a 17mm. Measure the old ball joint pin, and by a cheap WV replacement part. I cost me arond $100, to change both A-arms, with new bushing, and new bll joint's.
06-06-2003, 05:04 AM
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It would be much easier to drill the rivets out with the A-arms removed. They're bolted to the car with three bolts. The ball-joints are standard replacement parts, shouldn't cost more than 55$ to replace both.
At the back of the A-arm two bolt are used to attach it to the body. Mark the position of these two bolt in relation to the A-arm. That way you won't lose your suspension setup. Torque the bolt on the front of A-arm down when the vehicle is suspended on its wheels. This will prevent the bushing from seating in the wrong position.
Use high tensile bolts and lock-nuts to attach the ball-joint to the A-arm.
Good Luck
At the back of the A-arm two bolt are used to attach it to the body. Mark the position of these two bolt in relation to the A-arm. That way you won't lose your suspension setup. Torque the bolt on the front of A-arm down when the vehicle is suspended on its wheels. This will prevent the bushing from seating in the wrong position.
Use high tensile bolts and lock-nuts to attach the ball-joint to the A-arm.
Good Luck
06-06-2003, 08:15 AM
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This is not difficult. The hardest part is drilling out the 3 rivets per side that attach the joint to the arms (assuming your joints are still original). Be careful not to enlarge the holes in the control arm. The rivets are replaced with hardened 7mm nuts and bolts (an odd size, at least in the US). When I did mine a year ago the joints were less than $10 each from Eurowebparts. The 7mm nuts and bolts were included with the joints. The procedure (with photos) is described in the 944 Haynes workshop manual, or the VW Rabbit manual, for that matter.
