When I replaced my clutch I found that both the front ball joint boots are busted...many thanks to the folks who did the last clutch install <roll eyes>

Those puppies look to be pressed in. Does anyone have any experience/thoughts on changing them? Also...where is a good place to source the ball joints online. I will drop dead before I *ever* grace the local stealership again.

Thanks
Coty

 

BTW: I searched for "ball joints" and "balljoints" with zero luck before I posted ;-)

 

no body has those parts exept your "stealership"

 

My sympothy is with you, i dont know what you would do unless you could rent a ball joint press and try modifying to suit you car. Good luck!!

 

You cant buy them from Mitsu I tried.... thier part number for the ball joint includes the control arm lol. You either need to find a replacement that would FIT (They also have cuts to make a groove so the balljoint can only fit one way). So... if you want them either buy the whole control arm(s), buy boots and somehow put them on, or find some that would technically fit. I will try to find some boots that work but it will be tough considering they are zirk free... Perhaps just a slip on boot and squirt a bunch of grease underneath it?

 

What? You gotta be kidding me? The balljoints are not a replacement part? WTH?!? At some point they will wear out on all cars...especially autox or track cars? Geez...another blow.

 

Same thing happened to me. Mine tore after clutch replacement. I called the dealership and they said they will only sell the whole control arm with the balljoint for like 300 bucks wtf? I then called a different dealer and they were able to get me just the boot for 14 bucks . They do sell just the boot. Call the dealer and tell them you want just the boot. They can order it.

 

Are u trying to replace the ball joints or the boots or both???

 

Well even with just the boots... you need to fill them and I assume seat them onto the balljoint. Otherwise what.... just remove the old boot... squirt a bunch of grease and let the hub rest on the boot even though it didnt seal? Or is there a way to seal it?

 

The balljoint has some fine rib on it where the boot sits. You'll know what I'm talking about when you pull the old boot out. After putting some grease on the boot and the joint you can push the new boot down by hand as level as you can. I think the boot has a metal ring at the bottom and it kind of locks itself onto the ribs on the balljoint. I don't have any leaking issues yet.

 

cool, I guess I can finally fix mine

 

Most simple way to get the old boot off is to get a vise grip with a big enough jaw to clamp down at the bottom the the boot (not hard, just snug enough to turn) and then twis slowly back and forth. Once it's loose, twist and pull towards the top and it should come of easily.

 

And to get the new one back on, you squirt a bunch of grease inside it then slip it over the joint itself and push it down snug and then let the A-Arm do the rest or what?

 

Yes, that's what I did and it's been more than a few months and no signs of leaks yet. I'll check again in the spring.

 

sadfsd