'97 metro - control arms/ball joints
eingedi
09-27-2006, 09:29 AM
I'm looking for some good info on replacing/repairing the ball joints on this car. I can't seem to find either part thru google. Suppliers?
Can the ball joints be replaced? Chilton's says it's an integrated unit, but I wondered if someone had discovered a work-around.
Thanks,
Can the ball joints be replaced? Chilton's says it's an integrated unit, but I wondered if someone had discovered a work-around.
Thanks,
geozukigti
09-27-2006, 09:46 AM
Nope. The ball joints are welded in. No other choice but to replace the whole control arm.
GeeOh
09-30-2006, 05:22 AM
I'm looking for some good info on replacing/repairing the ball joints on this car. I can't seem to find either part thru google. Suppliers?
Can the ball joints be replaced? Chilton's says it's an integrated unit, but I wondered if someone had discovered a work-around.
Thanks,
'CRUNK!', odd noise coming from the front end... 'What was that?!' I wondered, until eventually the travel plane of my vehicle would shift over as though the steering wheel was jerked and instantly corrected (not fun on the highways). Anyway, one day exiting a highway (gratefully) and pulling up to an intersection, the ball joint separated in rush-hour traffic! just as I turned onto the main strip in the downtown metropolitan (@ about 5mph TYVM). A LUCKY! breakdown. Some kids called 911 on their cell then flagged down an unbusy ambulance to block traffic, they gave me a bright orange vest and I jacked the front end up to try and pop the balljoint back in just enough to push it out of traffic (nope, with 2 jacks yep, only had one so nope). Traffic control arrived, and after about 30minutes of only being able to wait for a towtruck, had to teach him how to connect his flatbed winch to my car other than hooking up to the disassembled control arm and got a decent break on my tow and saved from ripping my strut assembly out of the car while mangling the control bar etc...
Anyway, get it fixed asap! Parts stores quoted me around $160s, junkyard charged me $35 I think :) @ $35 a pop, my guess is 4.5 control arms would last much longer than one fresh from the factory (maybe even only 2).
Can the ball joints be replaced? Chilton's says it's an integrated unit, but I wondered if someone had discovered a work-around.
Thanks,
'CRUNK!', odd noise coming from the front end... 'What was that?!' I wondered, until eventually the travel plane of my vehicle would shift over as though the steering wheel was jerked and instantly corrected (not fun on the highways). Anyway, one day exiting a highway (gratefully) and pulling up to an intersection, the ball joint separated in rush-hour traffic! just as I turned onto the main strip in the downtown metropolitan (@ about 5mph TYVM). A LUCKY! breakdown. Some kids called 911 on their cell then flagged down an unbusy ambulance to block traffic, they gave me a bright orange vest and I jacked the front end up to try and pop the balljoint back in just enough to push it out of traffic (nope, with 2 jacks yep, only had one so nope). Traffic control arrived, and after about 30minutes of only being able to wait for a towtruck, had to teach him how to connect his flatbed winch to my car other than hooking up to the disassembled control arm and got a decent break on my tow and saved from ripping my strut assembly out of the car while mangling the control bar etc...
Anyway, get it fixed asap! Parts stores quoted me around $160s, junkyard charged me $35 I think :) @ $35 a pop, my guess is 4.5 control arms would last much longer than one fresh from the factory (maybe even only 2).
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