As one of the axles has a torn boot and feels a little rough I'm replacing both. With 155K it was suggested it would be a good time to look at the ball joints and Lower Control Arms.

My question for both is how loose is too loose?

Obviously if they're flopping around [ball joints] there's no question but how tight should they be,? No movement at all?

For the LCA's, any lateral movement at all? Or is some normal due to the rubber bushings?

Thanks,
robj

 

If all those suspension components are original, just assume that they need replacing. Labor is most efficient if you do them all now, especially lower control arm bushings and inner ball joints. Do Powerflex for the lower control arm bushings. Outer ball joints, sway bar bushings, and sway bar end links should also be replaced. What about your struts?

 

For the axles just rebuild the originals with new boots, the OEM are the best and most reliable. The aftermarket ones are just known to fail and not last.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-cv-boot-kit.html

for ball joints if they are loose they are bad, so replace as necessary, and go oem as they are reliable.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/powerf...ll-joints.html

For control arm bushings only go powerflex, the stock rubber ones will just fail again. If the stock ones have 40k on them they need replaced.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/powerf...shing-kit.html

 

JAB,

This was a $500 Mini I bought from my neighbor and so far I've driven it about 1000' to my house. It had a bad idler pulley, threw the belt and sat for a year before I got it.
So far I'm up to about $3K in parts. Battery, Supercharger service kit, water pump, T-stat and housing, pretty much all the inaccessible sensors, tensioner, belt, 15% pulley, plugs, wires, alternator, [stuck from sitting], Pads and rotors, parking brake cables x2, balancer, and now axles. All the hoses and a radiator from the last time it was towed with the thrown belt.

To compound the issue, the P.O. threw away his folder of receipts and not being a car guy has little recollection what's been done over the years. So some of the suspension/steering parts may have been replaced. He's the type that would take it to the dealer and probably do what they said so who knows?

At this point I'm reluctant to start replacing suspension parts before I've even driven it, so I don't really want to assume it all needs replacing.

If when the axles are out other parts feel "loose" they'll be replaced. All the sway bar bushings are tight with no deterioration to the rubber so I'm assuming they're good, at least for now.

So the question remains how much "play" is too much? Any at all?

To keep all this in perspective, I'm 68 and have slowed down a bit since my drag race/Autocross days, so I will most likely not need "boy racer" levels of performance [not that there's anything wrong with that of course], but I also want safe and serviceable.

Thanks again,
rob


Tidying up the engine compartment while awaiting parts. Trying my best to stay out of trouble...