Hey Rennbay! So....is this bad?
08-20-2009, 03:06 PM
#1
Just a car guy
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
Posts: 9,927
Received 835 Likes
on
524 Posts
Hey Rennbay! So....is this bad?
I know it's bad - but how bad? Is it possible the control arm can be rebuilt even after the ball joint has popped out? Or have we gone beyond the point of a rebuild?
Just want to get an idea how bad this is going to be before we start taking things apart.
This is Dr. Goodwench's car. She already ordered the ball joint kits. We're fixing her stupid Subaru right now - so we haven't even had a chance to mess with Penelope.
Just want to get an idea how bad this is going to be before we start taking things apart.
This is Dr. Goodwench's car. She already ordered the ball joint kits. We're fixing her stupid Subaru right now - so we haven't even had a chance to mess with Penelope.
08-20-2009, 03:16 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
WOW .... that was a scary ride.
I'm not Travis from Rennbay, but I believe if the aluminum control arm isn't damaged, then you can rebuild the joint.
From the pics (Can't see down inside the ball joint hole), it looks like you should be fine for a rebuild.
Perhaps Travis will respond with a more definite answer.
I'm not Travis from Rennbay, but I believe if the aluminum control arm isn't damaged, then you can rebuild the joint.
From the pics (Can't see down inside the ball joint hole), it looks like you should be fine for a rebuild.
Perhaps Travis will respond with a more definite answer.
08-20-2009, 03:17 PM
#3
Race Director
Wow...I would say that might be a no go since normally you know...they slide in from the bottom, not the top 
. Interested to see the pics once the arms are out.
. Interested to see the pics once the arms are out.
08-20-2009, 03:23 PM
#5
Just a car guy
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
Posts: 9,927
Received 835 Likes
on
524 Posts
WOW .... that was a scary ride.
I'm not Travis from Rennbay, but I believe if the aluminum control arm isn't damaged, then you can rebuild the joint.
From the pics (Can't see down inside the ball joint hole), it looks like you should be fine for a rebuild.
Perhaps Travis will respond with a more definite answer.
I'm not Travis from Rennbay, but I believe if the aluminum control arm isn't damaged, then you can rebuild the joint.
From the pics (Can't see down inside the ball joint hole), it looks like you should be fine for a rebuild.
Perhaps Travis will respond with a more definite answer.
Since I haven't taken it apart yet - I don't know what the top of the LCA looks like where the ball popped out. I'm sure Travis has seen enough of these to know whether I have a chance - or not.
08-20-2009, 03:26 PM
#6
Just a car guy
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
Posts: 9,927
Received 835 Likes
on
524 Posts
We're going with the track kit. I figure if there's enough aluminum left to hold the brass socket in place - we should be good.
We'll be using that epoxy too...
Trending Topics
08-20-2009, 06:22 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
It all depends on the top of the arm itself. If the ball joint is small enough to go through the hole without messing up the aluminum, then its fine.
If it made the hole bigger then yeah, Ebay another arm....
EDIT: I was just looking at the Rennbay kit. It doesn't look like there is a "top piece" in the kit, meaning the top of the control arm is the top of the ball joint
Ebay time. You need another arm.
If it made the hole bigger then yeah, Ebay another arm....
EDIT: I was just looking at the Rennbay kit. It doesn't look like there is a "top piece" in the kit, meaning the top of the control arm is the top of the ball joint
Ebay time. You need another arm.
08-20-2009, 07:09 PM
#12
Instructor
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since I've never found anything on a Subaru that was anywhere near as difficult to work on as the comparable item on the 944, I desperately want to take this off-topic and ask - what's wrong with the Sube that caused you to dislike it so much?
_Jeff
_Jeff
08-20-2009, 07:12 PM
#13
Just a car guy
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
Posts: 9,927
Received 835 Likes
on
524 Posts
It all depends on the top of the arm itself. If the ball joint is small enough to go through the hole without messing up the aluminum, then its fine.
If it made the hole bigger then yeah, Ebay another arm....
EDIT: I was just looking at the Rennbay kit. It doesn't look like there is a "top piece" in the kit, meaning the top of the control arm is the top of the ball joint
Ebay time. You need another arm.
If it made the hole bigger then yeah, Ebay another arm....
EDIT: I was just looking at the Rennbay kit. It doesn't look like there is a "top piece" in the kit, meaning the top of the control arm is the top of the ball joint
Ebay time. You need another arm.
Right. I figured we were going to need a replacement. Just wanted to hear from Travis, as he probably has more experience in this area than anyone I know.
Regarding the top parts: The little resin (plastic) bits, two rows above the red zerk-fitting covers are the top cups.
Last edited by Scott at Team Harco; 08-20-2009 at 07:56 PM.
08-20-2009, 07:30 PM
#14
Just a car guy
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: South Lyon, Michigan, Ewe Ess Eh
Posts: 9,927
Received 835 Likes
on
524 Posts
And since we are replacing the clutch in her RS2.5 it is taking valuable time away from working on her 944, my 944, and my two (actually three) rally cars.
The car itself is not that bad. I just don't want to waste my time working on it.
Edit: It's also a Homerism. He's always saying "stupid, something" (E.g. "stupid Flanders"). So we pretty much call everything "stupid". Stupid Subarus.
Last edited by Scott at Team Harco; 08-21-2009 at 11:03 AM.
