Rear wishbone ball joint failure - not nice....
Discussion
I can handle indicators occasionally falling off and the odd rattle, but today, while tootling around some back roads in Yorkshire, the driver's side rear lower outer ball joint sheared off, collapsing the suspension and sending me spinning.
Thankfully there was nothing coming the other way otherwise it would have been very messy.
When things like that happen I really lose the will to drive my Atom.
Out of interest how do the rear lower outer ball joints compare in thread size to all the others on the newer Atoms?
On mine, it looks like they've used smaller thread sizes because there are two (one on either edge of the hub), but in my view the main one is still taking all the load while the secondary one is just catering for toe adjustments.
Has this happened to anyone else? There was really no reason for mine to break like that.
Very worrying....
Ross.
Thankfully there was nothing coming the other way otherwise it would have been very messy.
When things like that happen I really lose the will to drive my Atom.
Out of interest how do the rear lower outer ball joints compare in thread size to all the others on the newer Atoms?
On mine, it looks like they've used smaller thread sizes because there are two (one on either edge of the hub), but in my view the main one is still taking all the load while the secondary one is just catering for toe adjustments.
Has this happened to anyone else? There was really no reason for mine to break like that.
Very worrying....
Ross.
Thanks for the photo Jean-Pascal, I've just replied. It's difficult to tell from the photo whether the lower ball joints are now the same size as the uppers (and the upper and lower joints at the front).
Personally, I now think they need to be, as mine gave up for absolutely no reason - it wasn't even under much cornering load yesterday so could have happened at any time. To be honest, I wouldn't mind so much on a track where everything's going in the same direction and there's run-off. There was absolutely nothing I could do yesterday to stop the car spinning out of control across the road - the broken joint immediately cut the tyre off the rim. Thankfully at that moment there was no other traffic around at all - but it was a bike route so I spent the rest of the afternoon watching bikes howling past while I waited to be collected - I really don't want to think what a mess a biker vs Atom collision would have made.
I'm hoping, on the newer cars, that the lower ball joints are now the same larger ones as on the rest of the outer suspension joints - if so, I reckon it will be fine. If not, I'm certainly going to try and get larger ones fitted on mine before I drive it again.
But if they have been modified because this has happened on other cars - why the hell wasn't I warned??? The price of a bit of machining and a pair of larger ball joints is nothing compared to the kind of carnage that could have been caused.
Anyhow, I'll speak to Ariel tomorrow.
Personally, I now think they need to be, as mine gave up for absolutely no reason - it wasn't even under much cornering load yesterday so could have happened at any time. To be honest, I wouldn't mind so much on a track where everything's going in the same direction and there's run-off. There was absolutely nothing I could do yesterday to stop the car spinning out of control across the road - the broken joint immediately cut the tyre off the rim. Thankfully at that moment there was no other traffic around at all - but it was a bike route so I spent the rest of the afternoon watching bikes howling past while I waited to be collected - I really don't want to think what a mess a biker vs Atom collision would have made.
I'm hoping, on the newer cars, that the lower ball joints are now the same larger ones as on the rest of the outer suspension joints - if so, I reckon it will be fine. If not, I'm certainly going to try and get larger ones fitted on mine before I drive it again.
But if they have been modified because this has happened on other cars - why the hell wasn't I warned??? The price of a bit of machining and a pair of larger ball joints is nothing compared to the kind of carnage that could have been caused.
Anyhow, I'll speak to Ariel tomorrow.
Just spoken to Simon, looks like I'm probably going to send the car down to them for repairs as they've had a couple of people interested in buying it - I'd do it myself, but the car needs to be down at their end if they're going to sell it.
Seems that while it shouldn't have happened (ie Simon's happy enough with the original spec on my car), they have modified those ball joints on later cars so that they're the larger ones (ie. same as all the other outer rod ends). Simon said they've not had it happen to anyone else.
They're also thinking about putting a recommended lifespan on parts like that which I think is wise - although I'm not convinced that mine failed due to old age, lack of maintenance etc.
Bruce - has yours got the larger rod ends? ie. are the ones on the lower wishbone the same size as the top ones? I imagine they are.
The safest solution is probably to 1. make sure you have the larger rod ends fitted. 2. use high spec rod ends. 3. perhaps look to change them every couple of years.
Not an ideal situation, but far better than spinning off into a load of oncoming traffic through no fault of your own.
Cheers, Ross.
Seems that while it shouldn't have happened (ie Simon's happy enough with the original spec on my car), they have modified those ball joints on later cars so that they're the larger ones (ie. same as all the other outer rod ends). Simon said they've not had it happen to anyone else.
They're also thinking about putting a recommended lifespan on parts like that which I think is wise - although I'm not convinced that mine failed due to old age, lack of maintenance etc.
Bruce - has yours got the larger rod ends? ie. are the ones on the lower wishbone the same size as the top ones? I imagine they are.
The safest solution is probably to 1. make sure you have the larger rod ends fitted. 2. use high spec rod ends. 3. perhaps look to change them every couple of years.
Not an ideal situation, but far better than spinning off into a load of oncoming traffic through no fault of your own.
Cheers, Ross.
Where could the oil be coming from??? Apart from a bit of lubrication, there really isn't anywhere 'inside' a rod-end for a reserve of oil to be!
..unless I'm missing something....
Just a thought - are you sure the oil isn't coming from above? Engine/gearbox/shock? Ah it sounds like you're talking at the front end, although same applies. I can't think where that's coming from.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Tuesday 4th May 16:28
..unless I'm missing something....
Just a thought - are you sure the oil isn't coming from above? Engine/gearbox/shock? Ah it sounds like you're talking at the front end, although same applies. I can't think where that's coming from.
>> Edited by ross.mcw on Tuesday 4th May 16:28
Well said goodbye to my Atom today (perhaps for the last time).
Managed to find a transportation company to take it down at zero notice so cleaned it up, bolted everything back together and got National Tyres to stick an old tyre on - once fixed, it'll make a good buy for a new Atom owner.
I think Simon's had a couple of interested buyers so it being down at their place should hopefully make it easier to sell - then I can think about upgrading.
Feels kind of odd not having one now though - sad to see it go...
Managed to find a transportation company to take it down at zero notice so cleaned it up, bolted everything back together and got National Tyres to stick an old tyre on - once fixed, it'll make a good buy for a new Atom owner.
I think Simon's had a couple of interested buyers so it being down at their place should hopefully make it easier to sell - then I can think about upgrading.
Feels kind of odd not having one now though - sad to see it go...
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