For the 3-rd time in 4 years i have to replace the wishbones on my Marea Weekend 1.6 -01, because of worn balljoints.
Since the first time of replacement the car has been running about 90.000 km.
How common is this problem?

I would think that a wishbone/balljoint should last for more than about 2 years.
Could the balljoints be exposed to ecessive wear because my Marea is 40 mm lower than standard?

Thanks in advance for any possible answer, and please forgive my bad english.

My Weekend 1.6 16v has done 40,000 miles (kms ?) in the past 17 months,
and just needed 1 wishbone about halfway through that. Now done 102,000 miles total.

The other one is still quiet.

if you are replacing the wishbones with pattern parts get some genuine ones, they are alot more expensive but they will last 8-10 years

Ry

bulldog5046 said:

if you are replacing the wishbones with pattern parts get some genuine ones, they are alot more expensive but they will last 8-10 years

Ry

Click to expand...

Well.. The "genuine ones" did only last for about 3 years, so...
I´m not so sure it´s worth the price.

I put new pattern wishbones on my car at 40K miles, they are still on there working fine at 110K. The suspension did need a lot of work but once fixed it has stayed fixed. I did not lower the car though.

Just replaced the drivers side wishbone on my Marea. Done it in 90 minutes this time as opposed to about 8 hours over the space of 2 days when I did the other side 2 years ago.

Last time I spent ages trying to get the balloint onto the vertical link. Nearly gave myself a hernia. Then I had an idea and popped on a couple of spring compressors on the spring and cranked them up to take the strain. Result was I could move the strut with relative ease and popped the balljoint in with no trouble at all.

22 quid for the wishbone at my local motor factor and £4.65 for the nut and bolt for securing the balljoint to the vertical link from a Fiat dealer. As it happens I could have got away with re-using the old bolt but I chewed the one on the other side and as the Fiat dealer doesn't open on a Sunday I wanted to play safe.

Fingers crossed for the MOT next month.

As Bulldog says, I've used pattern parts and they don't seem to last, whereas the Fiat ones do last alot longer but cost alot more.
Horses for courses? or something like that.
I'd play it safe and stick with Fiat ones for wishbones.

Re: How common is worn wishbone balljoints pin???

hi. on a similar issue. Has anyone had experience of and fix to remedy the ball joint pin not being held secure by the hub pinch bolt. I'd replaced the wishbone arm in the summer, but the actual ball joint pin has vertical movement. I've fitted a new pinch bolt,and its tight, but the ball joint pin still moves. any advice would be appreciated. thanks