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jonc3725 · 29th January 2020, 22:38

Because my drop links had not given me any issues I decided to refurb them rather than renew with Chinese chocolate ones we are taking a lottery on.

Firstly all the paint was stripped off. I did this before removing the boots to stop contamination getting into the ball joints

IMG_20200126_195408 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

Next up I cleaned up the M10 threads by running a die nut down them. Additionally replacement Nyloc nuts were bought

IMG_20200126_195433 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

Once the paint was removed I noted these are Delphi manufactured items but I cannot believe original.

IMG_20200126_195659 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

Next i removed the spring clips and rubber bands on the boots and removed the boots. I laid out all the parts including replacement parts on a cloth so as not to contaminate the ball joints.

IMG_20200127_170031 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

The ball joints had little grease in them and the grease was quite dry so I suspect failure would start occurring in the not too distant future

IMG_20200127_170052 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

So I cleaned out all the old grease by moving the ball joints and flushing out with oil being careful not to score or damage the balls.

IMG_20200127_170653 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

Next up I charged the ball joint with new grease. this looks really messy but what I was doing was packing in the grease and moving the ball joint around to get the grease in the right areas.As the joint was moved the grease would squirt out.

IMG_20200127_170859 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

Next up I packed the joints with grease

IMG_20200127_171021 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

I then packed the boots with grease and fitted them over the ball shafts. At this point grease squirted out the top and bottom which tells me the joints are well charged

IMG_20200127_171137 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

The area around the boots was cleaned off and the spring clips were refitted and I used very thin tie wraps for the top joint to maintain integrity. I fitted 2 x new boots to replace worn ones

IMG_20200127_172503 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

Both units rebuilt ready for painting.

IMG_20200127_202353 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

I really hope with this remedial work these units last longer than the ones we can buy.

Additionally the aluminium lower arm ball joints have been through the same process as the drop link ball joints and new boots fitted.

IMG_20200130_202643 by Jon Christie, on Flickr

All the primed parts are now in top coat corroless drying .

29th January 2020, 22:38	#293
jonc3725 Posted a thing or two MG ZT 190 + and MKIV Supra Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Plymouth Posts: 1,551 Thanks: 224 Thanked 493 Times in 359 Posts	Because my drop links had not given me any issues I decided to refurb them rather than renew with Chinese chocolate ones we are taking a lottery on. Firstly all the paint was stripped off. I did this before removing the boots to stop contamination getting into the ball joints IMG_20200126_195408 by Jon Christie, on Flickr Next up I cleaned up the M10 threads by running a die nut down them. Additionally replacement Nyloc nuts were bought IMG_20200126_195433 by Jon Christie, on Flickr Once the paint was removed I noted these are Delphi manufactured items but I cannot believe original. IMG_20200126_195659 by Jon Christie, on Flickr Next i removed the spring clips and rubber bands on the boots and removed the boots. I laid out all the parts including replacement parts on a cloth so as not to contaminate the ball joints. IMG_20200127_170031 by Jon Christie, on Flickr The ball joints had little grease in them and the grease was quite dry so I suspect failure would start occurring in the not too distant future IMG_20200127_170052 by Jon Christie, on Flickr So I cleaned out all the old grease by moving the ball joints and flushing out with oil being careful not to score or damage the balls. IMG_20200127_170653 by Jon Christie, on Flickr Next up I charged the ball joint with new grease. this looks really messy but what I was doing was packing in the grease and moving the ball joint around to get the grease in the right areas.As the joint was moved the grease would squirt out. IMG_20200127_170859 by Jon Christie, on Flickr Next up I packed the joints with grease IMG_20200127_171021 by Jon Christie, on Flickr I then packed the boots with grease and fitted them over the ball shafts. At this point grease squirted out the top and bottom which tells me the joints are well charged IMG_20200127_171137 by Jon Christie, on Flickr The area around the boots was cleaned off and the spring clips were refitted and I used very thin tie wraps for the top joint to maintain integrity. I fitted 2 x new boots to replace worn ones IMG_20200127_172503 by Jon Christie, on Flickr Both units rebuilt ready for painting. IMG_20200127_202353 by Jon Christie, on Flickr I really hope with this remedial work these units last longer than the ones we can buy. Additionally the aluminium lower arm ball joints have been through the same process as the drop link ball joints and new boots fitted. IMG_20200130_202643 by Jon Christie, on Flickr All the primed parts are now in top coat corroless drying . __________________ Jon C Living the dream MK IV VVTI Tiptronic TT Toyota Supra MG ZT 190+ BornTuesday, 10th July 2001 @ 09:01:10 259th ZT to run off the production line, out of 18,894 252nd ZT 190 + to be made out of 4,023 101st ZT in Solar Red (code: CEU) to be made out of 1,888 Last edited by jonc3725; 30th January 2020 at 20:07..