lower arms

hoover · 05-11-2005, 12:34 PM

Hi, I want to have new ball joints installed in my aluminium lower suspension arms, now when I remove them can someone tell me if it will disturb the wheel alignment. Thanx.

Dantilla · 05-11-2005, 01:58 PM

Yes. The car will need to be realigned.

How are you going to replace the ball joints? Lots of us here would like to avoid replacing the entire control arm.

hoover · 05-11-2005, 02:10 PM

Well I've found a company over here that have done this job before. Seems they take a skim out to clean up where the cup was, and fit a new unit with a grease nipple.
I have heard that the alignment thing may be possible to avoid if certain parts are left in place, maybe that's not so though.

Britwrench · 05-11-2005, 02:25 PM

Whenever suspension work is done alignment (and that would be four wheel version) is always required.
If you don't know what is was before and even if you do, the shop is certainly not going to take the possibility of customer complaints about tire wear after repairs. All comes down to liability nowadays.

bazar01 · bazar01's Garage

It depends on your front tires wear condition before you pull out the control arms and also on the condition of the ball joints,
bushings and tie rod assemblies when the last front wheel alignment was done.
If the ball joints, bushings and tie rod assemblies were all good when the last alignment was done,
you might get it back to it's original alignment settings when you install the rebuilt control arms.
But that's assuming the control arm bushings and tie rod assemblies are all still good and tight.
Otherwise, it is still best practice to get an alignment after replacing the control arms, ball joints,
bushings or tie rod assemblies that way you'll know if there are other issues that need to be corrected before the alignment is done.
Normally alignment shops will not proceed with alignment if some suspension components need replacements.
It boils down to warranty and liability as Britwrench had mentioned.

hoover · 05-12-2005, 01:39 PM

Thanks for info and advise.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

"Skim out"??? Why? The steel ball rides in a plastic cup/race. There is no need to remove any material from the arm. In fact this can be dangerous as it will weaken the aluminum arm. If the stem of the ball joint has been hitting the opening in the arm or the plastic race has deteriorated to the point that the ball was riding on the aluminum then have the assembly welded and remachined to stock. Or you could buy a rebuilt from an honest rebuilder. Honest as in welds and machines to stock. No skimming out!!!

hoover · 02:33 PM

Well actually this disturbed me at first, and now you've started me off again! When I queried this point the guy said it was done to get a fixed size/tolerance and clean metal so as to be sure of a perfect fit with the new part, which I understand has a slight taper fit from underneath. As I have not seen a dismantled arm I have been unable to see for myself the engineering rights or wrongs of this proceedure, I can only say it sort of made sense, when I asked if the removal of metal would weaken the arm I was told it was only a matter of removing thousanths of an inch.
The problem over here is the lack of rebuild units and the worry of how well they are done! Looks like I've got some more thinking to do. What a rip off having to buy a complete unit, A pretty mean money making ploy on behalf of porsche me thinks!
ps: The cup is Metal, possibly brass.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Still no need to remove material from the inside of the ball joint. Any replacement bushing can be sized for the stock bore. The plastic bushing is split on four sides so the pressure of the ball expands it to fill the bore. Should have the bottom pressure pad replaced too as well as the o-ring that seals the cover plate.

I would be more concerned with magnafluxing and welding of any cracks.

Mark944na86 · 03:18 AM

You might want to check out www.rennbay.com -- they have a DIY rebuild kit for the aluminium control arms. I did this with a friend in afternoon a couple of months ago; so far so good!

I understand there is a way of rebuilding the arms that requires machining out the old joint and placing an "insert" in its place; however, arms that have been rebuilt this way are not rebuildable with simple relacement bushing kits like the Rennbay ones.

The owner of Rennbay, Travis, is knowledgeable and quite generous with his time explaining the options. Good luck!

-Mark

Lawrence Coppari · 05-13-2005, 07:29 AM

Recently, I have been in contact with Rennbay regarding rebuilding kits as well as rebuildable control arms for my 951. I have to say that I have not been pleased with their attention to detail and deadlines.

ae1969 · 05-13-2005, 10:46 AM

AfJuvat had mine rebuilt by a local rebuilder for me........... and they are working great.

I don't like the idea of skimming any material from these as well. Its a safety issue.

I would not trust myself with doing it myself or ANYONE in my area doing it for me. THe idea of hitting a corner at 100 mph and hitting the brakes at full force on a 90 degree turn makes my stomach turn the stress that little ball joint is going through but a street driven car may never see the stresses of a track car....

Better safe.

Lawrence Coppari · 05-13-2005, 10:52 AM

I ordered a new one today. Mine could not be rebuilt, although I would certainly do it myself if mine were safe to rebuild. It had lost metal due to the ball getting into the socket area.

Gives me something else to think about at turn 12 at Road Atlanta.......to add to the excitement of it all.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

If one is worn out better check the other. When you rebuild the aluminum arms you can drill and add a grease zerk. Would be a good idea even with a new arm. Not that difficult to take them apart.