Technical Ball Joint Repalcement

[robotdancer]

Hi all, been a while since I've been on, but that just means the sedici has been running beautifully!

Just failed MOT for excessive play in offside lower ball joint... doesn't look like a difficult job to change... but...

Can I find a supplier for the part??? nope!

Anyone know who could supply one?

Cheers

 

[johntywyn]

Do you mean you cannot get the part through a Fiat Dealer ??

 

[drjod]

theres some suzuki sx4 stuff on ebay, dunno if thats what your after...?

 

[robotdancer]

Hi Johnty, yes can get thru main dealer but cost seems very high for a ball joint. £200 fitted.

Bought parts in the past for different cars and paid around £10-£30 for the part and my time to fit.

Just seems a little expensive to me.

Not sure about the SX4 bits as most of them (even the 2.0 ddis) are 2wd so don't know if the bits are compatible.

 

[stephenbebop]

Hi
Try looking at lower arm on eBay. Think they come complete with all 3 joints but are handed (left or right). Around £40 if they are the right thing
Stephen

 

[tinytim]

Usual to replace the whole track control arm AKA lower wishbone....

SX4 ones are identical

Tighten bolts after car has settled on it's wheels for a while and then get vertical & horizontal alignment checked (this is a significant cost so worth doing both track control arms as other side will fail shortly)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Sedi...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item232843e6e8

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Sedi...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c304ddede

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SS2712-FI...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item460e53a60c

 

[robotdancer]

Cheers Tim,

Got the dealer to do the off side as was under time pressure with MOT fail and wife was glaring at me!

But as you say I can hear the near side rattling already so might just have a crack at that.

This may sound daft but any idea how much you'd expect an alignment to cost and is it a specialist job or a kwikfit/Halfords style job? The mechanics of swapping the part look pretty straight forward on the workshop manual but wouldn't have a clue about alignment.

Cheers
Gary

 

[drjod]

you could mark the thread on the shaft before you undo it, so you can get it as close as the original setting as poss when you put the replacement on, I had my tracking done at kwik fit for £40, I did it on a bmw a few years ago, didn't need any adjustment afterwards, just an idea....

 

[tinytim]

Our local ATS is very helpful and have just installed a fancy 4 wheel alignment setup; I think the cost is about £60 for 4 wheels and £40 for front only (discount if >60 (age that is....)