Hdi Ball Joints

[oakley]

I need to replace my nearside ball joint as its completely shot- are these just bolt on?? Had a look at eurocarparts prices and from the look of it it was just 3 bolts and bobs your uncle?!

If so has any one got a DIY I can follow so I can give it a whirl myself??

Thanks in advance

[Johndouglas]

If it's the bottom ball joint you're looking at, then No! it's a screw in joint. It's the same as that on the previous BX and Xantia. The ball screws in and then it's peened into grooves. See the diagram:-

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/Suspension.jpg

[oakley]

ok cheers for the reply- odd that if you put ball joint into ebay or eurocarparts they all come up as just bolt on and held on with three nuts...Guess i'll go lift the car up and take a proper look!!

[Johndouglas]

This is what you want:-

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-C5-XANTIA-XM-LOWER-SUSPENSION-BALL-JOINT-NEW-/390111925786?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5ad47b961a

 

There are tools on the market to assist in removing them. Sealy do one here:-

 

http://www.sealeyonline.co.uk/sx027-lower-ball-joint-socket-peugeot-405-citroen.html

[oakley]

Wrong model- Surely this is easier??

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-XSARA-HDI-99-05-FRONT-BALL-JOINT-LOWER-OE-QU-/300456362203?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item45f49840db

 

Just held on with three screws- undo the screws and off it comes??!! Or is that just wishful thinking?

Thanks for the replies so far :o

[Johndouglas]

Wrong model-

 

You're right! My apologies - Xsara's are different to C5's and some later model Xsaras See below:-

 

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/Xsarasuspension.jpg

[oakley]

yeah that def looks more like it then the other pictures- thanks a lot- so once the 3 bolts that holding the thing on are taken off will the ball joint drop out or is it held in the top with another screw / pushed in / etc etc!! Do I need a special ball joint tool to pull it out (if so can i just smack it with a hammer!!? and clamp the new one in?)

[Johndouglas]

so once the 3 bolts that holding the thing on are taken off will the ball joint drop out

 

 

No! It's held in with a through bolt which needs to be removed - item 12 in the diagram. Even then it will be tight and you may need to knock a chisel point into the split on the hub to open the hole slightly. The lower suspension arm will hold the ball joint in its hole under pressure so you'll need a long lever to force the arm down. All four nuts - item 15 - are self-locking so new ones should be used.