Ball Joint Replacment How-To
10-01-2006, 11:43 AM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Ball Joint Replacment How-To
Required Parts:
8N0 407 365 A or 8N0 407 365 B ($78 from www.1stvwparts.com ) - may or my not come with all the required nuts, check with them. You can reuse the old nuts if you need too, but new ones would be prefered.
Required Tools:
Lug wrench
Jack
Jack Stands
16 mm Wrench
18 mm Wrench
Ball Joint Splitter tool (see Photo 7 at the link)
15 mm Wrench
Torque wrench with 15 mm socket
The ball joint is item #10. Nuts #11, #12 come with the replacement part:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/435091/4092571/FrontSuspension-vi.jpg">
Here is the old ball joint, determined to be worn by grabbing the wheel on the jacked up car, and rocking up and down:
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN7997-vi.jpg">
As always, the right tool makes the difference. Here is a ball joint removal tool in action:
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8007-vi.jpg">
After the joint is split:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8010-vi.jpg">
Comparison of old and new components:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8012-vi.jpg">
New part in place:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8022-vi.jpg">
Not a difficult job at all, should take under two hours your first time, under one the next time.
Also, once you are this far, you might as well slip in some <a href="http://www.modshack.info/defcon.htm"> DEFCON</a>s!
Full write-up and descriptions in my Fotki at the link...<ul><li><a href="http://public.fotki.com/mcphill/audi_stuff/maintenance_items/ball-joint---coming-soon/">Ball Joint Replacement Fotki</a></li></ul>
8N0 407 365 A or 8N0 407 365 B ($78 from www.1stvwparts.com ) - may or my not come with all the required nuts, check with them. You can reuse the old nuts if you need too, but new ones would be prefered.
Required Tools:
Lug wrench
Jack
Jack Stands
16 mm Wrench
18 mm Wrench
Ball Joint Splitter tool (see Photo 7 at the link)
15 mm Wrench
Torque wrench with 15 mm socket
The ball joint is item #10. Nuts #11, #12 come with the replacement part:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/435091/4092571/FrontSuspension-vi.jpg">
Here is the old ball joint, determined to be worn by grabbing the wheel on the jacked up car, and rocking up and down:
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN7997-vi.jpg">
As always, the right tool makes the difference. Here is a ball joint removal tool in action:
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8007-vi.jpg">
After the joint is split:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8010-vi.jpg">
Comparison of old and new components:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8012-vi.jpg">
New part in place:
<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8022-vi.jpg">
Not a difficult job at all, should take under two hours your first time, under one the next time.
Also, once you are this far, you might as well slip in some <a href="http://www.modshack.info/defcon.htm"> DEFCON</a>s!
Full write-up and descriptions in my Fotki at the link...<ul><li><a href="http://public.fotki.com/mcphill/audi_stuff/maintenance_items/ball-joint---coming-soon/">Ball Joint Replacement Fotki</a></li></ul>
10-01-2006, 11:53 AM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
I have known of them for a long time, but also never bought from them. Found this tool
there for very cheap, though (it is linked in my Fotki, photo 7). I know a few Jeep friends who use them a lot, I just never have found much useful stuff there. Wish I had bought there, as it is MUCH cheaper than the MAC tool I got, and includes a tie-rod removal as well. Oh well, live and learn ; )
Trending Topics
10-01-2006, 12:39 PM
#8
Looks like your alignment may be out now
from that pic it looks like you are tightening up the ball joint to the lower control arm off the previous marks. That will throw your alignment off.
Not to be a PITA, but it would sure suck to wear out a tire before it's due.
Not to be a PITA, but it would sure suck to wear out a tire before it's due.
10-01-2006, 01:52 PM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Thanks for the warning, but it is not an issue right now. I am doing a ton of other work, and will
be getting a full alignment and corner balance once I am through. Note also, though, that the new nuts have a "hex shaped" washer, where the OEM ones were round, so the pencil marks will never line up exactly right.
