Blown ball joint

[Quingquad]

I'm reposting this from a different thread. Hoping to get more people to give their oppinion...

I ran a harescramble yesterday with my rebuilt blaster. Crazy hills up and down. Tons of bikes showed up (of which there were a couple of sick blasters). Unfortunately for me, after 10 minutes of crazy up and down action, the ball joint on my right lower A-arm decided to take a vacation and completely came off the A-arm. I have to admit the A-arms were very old. I am also using the norman spindle set up for front hydros. Having this said, how could this happen? Did I miss something on the setup with the norman spindles or is this what happens eventually to all old A-arms? Just trying to learn something to keep this from happening again...

 

[sicivicdude]

Ball joints separate, that's not norman spindle's fault.

The only thing is, you've got to replace the whole lower control arm now.

 

[Quingquad]

How often does this happen? Any way of telling before the wreck? lol

 

[sicivicdude]

Rarely. Mainly after damage of some sort of a lot of age.

The best way to tell if you have a bad ball joint is to jack the quad up after each race and yank on all of the suspension. Anything loose could signal a problem no matter where it's at.

The end game solution is to replace the factory arms with a-arms which can have a ball joint replaced.

 

[mac2mac]

I have a bottom arm in good condition how much would you give me for it? I still need like 150 more post before I can start selling in the classifieds.

 

[88' blaster]

I have a bottom arm in good condition how much would you give me for it? I still need like 150 more post before I can start selling in the classifieds.

and i have good tops with that deal for you

 

[mac2mac]

I have a whole side but not disc brakes like yours

 

[Quingquad]

I just came back from getting a set from a local ad I found on Craigslit... Hopefully these won't fall appart!

 

[sicivicdude]

Check the joints after each scramble. Make sure the joints don't have up and down play.

If you continue to race, you will eventually need a-arms with replacable ball joints. That way (and you better believe that racing will eventually tear them up) WHEN you rip a ball joint apart, you can replace just the ball joint, not the entire arm.

 

[Quingquad]

I've been doing research and can't find the info I'm looking for... What's the procedure for greasing ball joints? Is the tie rap trick the best out there to keep the grease inside the boot?

Thanks everyone

 

[slickerthanyou]

I use a needle on my grease gun and usually takes one pump every couple months! Never heard of tie wraps