It never rains but it snows

[Fred Byrne]

I brought the car to the MOT station and it failed. Excessively worn nearside suspension ball joint. Both suspension arms were replaced in January with new ones from DMGRS. Do I now instruct my garage to remove nearside lower suspension arm and send it back to DMGRS asking for a replacement for a faulty suspension arm. If DMGRS say the original is perfectly sound, (which I expect) then who pays the costs? MOT stations here are government run and I anticipate endless argument and blame shifting. Who am I to question their superior knnowledge.
I'll sleep on it I think.
I'm having a bad run at present

Fred

[stevestrat]

First thing I'd do is contact Mat (DMGRS) and make him aware, see what he says.

[stocktake]

I would first clarify the joint they have failed. "suspension ball joint" could be the one in the arm or it could be the hub that is worn, giving the appearance of a worn joint at the end of the arm, could even be the lower joint on the drop link?

[Fred Byrne]

I brought the car to Rob at Ards Rover &Mini Centre. He will be examining the car tomorrow. Then we shall determine how we proceed. Both of us, reading the MOT's centre's report, believe it is the outer ball joint on the suspension arm that they have identified.
Fred

[stocktake]

I would imagine that that is the hub that is worn, sometimes this can be sorted out by tightening the bolt with a few extra NM

[Number 6]

Not seeing the "Loose" joint it is difficult to say exactly what is "Loose" You say that the the lower arms were replaced ni January.. Being such a short space of time it is feasible that the pinch bolt that holds the hub carrier onto the lower arm ball joint was not tightened up to the required torque. Maybe check that out and check the torque setting

[Fred Byrne]

That had accurred to me but the garage man who fitted it is normally very reliable. Anyway I am leaving it with Rob at Ards to sort the whole thing out. I replaced the roadspring pre-covid and fitted new bolts. There was no sign of wear then. Needless to say mileage during covid was about 1600 in total.

Fred

[Number 6]

Originally Posted by Fred Byrne

That had accurred to me but the garage man who fitted it is normally very reliable. Anyway I am leaving it with Rob at Ards to sort the whole thing out. I replaced the roadspring pre-covid and fitted new bolts. There was no sign of wear then. Needless to say mileage during covid was about 1600 in total.

Fred

Maybe but I I know of cases when they have been "Tightened" and after a short time the car develops a Knock on the suspension And the pinch bolt needed torquing up by a decent amount

Please let us know the out come.

[Mike Noc]

The first hub I had fail was after the lower arm was replaced by a main dealer, as the car was company owned. The mechanics were experienced, well trained and would have followed the official schedule, and after having a couple fail over the years myself, I think the official torque figure for the clamp bolt, 45Nm is very much on the limit to hold the hub securely.

Add to the mix the use of aftermarket parts and varying tolerances, and it isn't surprising to see why the clamp bolt doesn't hold the ball joint securely in some cases and then the hub will wear over time. Once that has happened the only option is to replace the hub.

I use new nuts and bolts, torque them to 55Nm and check that there is no play between the hub and lower arm, and then check again a week or two later just to ensure all is good.

[Fred Byrne]

Just checked underneath the car. My garage fitted the wrong bolt. I am livid and afraid to drive the car until a new one arrives from Rimmers. Hoping this hasn't ruined either hub or suspension arm.

Fred