The suspension arm is connected to the center of the wheel (hub) using a ball joint. Symptoms of the failure of this unit are: a knock while riding on bumps, "wobble" cars on a flat road, uneven wear of rubber and creak when turning the steering wheel all the way. For what reasons can the ball joint fail?
Reasons for ball bearing wear
The main enemies of the ball have always been water and dirt. They can get on the joints only in case of wear of the anther - a rubber cover, which serves as a protection of the hinge from external influences. It either wears out during operation (dries, cracks), or may be damaged mechanically (for example, during suspension repair).
The service life of the ball joint varies from 15 thousand km to 120. The indicator depends on the operating conditions of the car and the condition of the protective boot.
Self diagnosis
The best option to find a malfunction is always the diagnostic stand at the service station. But to find a breakdown yourself is also possible. To determine the malfunction of the ball bearing by ear, you need an assistant who will swing the car from side to side, while the owner carefully listens to all the creaks and knocks that the suspension makes.
Checking the condition of the ball joints is visually much more effective, but you will need a viewing hole or a lift. The assistant holds the brake pedal, and the owner swings the wheel. If there is a backlash, then the ball bearing must be changed or in order to save, try to restore.
Repair and restoration of a spherical support
Ball support can be either collapsible (for example, in domestic cars), and non-collapsible. Of course, repairing a unit that can be disassembled into parts is much easier. Spherical dismantle, disassemble and change worn parts. As a rule, these are polymer inserts and anther. Then install the site in place. Repair of ball joints (collapsible) is over.
If the ball does not disassemble, then either the grinder makes the support collapsible, but after repair, the structure is restored by welding, or they use the more humane method and pour liquid polymer into the ball under pressure.
Many recommend disassembling the support in any case for grinding the axis ball or replacing it.
How to disassemble non-separable
Before proceeding with disassembly of the ball joint, it must be removed. For this:
- Jack the car and dismantle the wheel.
- We turn the steering wheel to the end.
- Remove the cotter pin from the pliers nut.
- We unscrew the nut and use the puller to extrude the axis.
- Turn off the ball mount.
- With the help of the mount, we squeeze the lower lever, and you can remove the ball.
Now you need to disassemble the support. If it consists of two welded cups, then on one of them it is necessary to drill several welding points, and then separate these cups with a chisel. Then, a finger with an insert is inserted into the body, and the half cups are welded together. It is worth making sure that this liner does not overheat.
If there is an inserted bottom in the case, then the flared edges are cleaned with a grinder or emery. Then hit the end of the axis with a hammer to knock out the bottom. The outer and inner diameters of the body are measured and a ring is made of steel 10 mm high with thread and plug. It is welded to the support body. Insert a finger with an insert and screw in the plug so that it is pressing this insert. A hole of 2 mm is drilled in the ring as close to the cork as possible and cotter-free.
To install the ball bearing in place, you must:
- Attach the ball to the lower arm and secure it.
- Install the pin (axis) in the seat, while squeezing the lower lever.
- Tighten the nut on the finger.
- If the finger rotates at the landing site, use the pry bar to pull the lever up.
When installing the support in place, the puller is not required. Re-removing and installing the ball will be easier if you replace the cotter pin with self-locking nuts.
Liquid polymer application method
For sale are ready-made rods filled with liquid polymer for the restoration of ball bearings with their own hands. The polymer composition is specially designed for units with increased load. It withstands pressure above 1000 kg / cm 2 and dampens friction. Not affected by lubricants. It provides restoration of the ball joint and its operation for about 100,000 km more. You can use this repair method several times.
The technology of this method is quite simple. With the help of an extruder with pneumatic force, the polymer is injected through a special hole into the body of the assembly. It fills the voids inside, completely repeats the contour of the support finger and takes on all the loads.
Ball Joint Repair Machine
To properly perform the restoration of the ball joint, you must use the machine. It is designed to measure the temperature of the polymer and its proper flow into the ball housing.
A standard ball joint recovery machine consists of:
- from the control unit;
- extruder;
- compressor;
- pneumatic cylinder;
- thermal pencil;
- several nozzles-adapters;
- polymer.
The extruder with the polymer inside is screwed to the pneumatic cylinder. A threaded hole is made in a worn support and a nozzle adapter of the required size is inserted into it, which is connected to the extruder by a nozzle.
After the polymer material becomes soft, a pneumatic cylinder is launched, which squeezes it through the plunger and nozzle into the support. In the case when the material is filled incorrectly, the ball will serve another 30,000 km.
It is worth considering that overheating of the polymer material deprives it of all the necessary properties. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully read the instructions attached to it and monitor the temperature regime according to the readings of the machine.
Equipment for the restoration of ball joints can be constructed independently: the extruder can be made on a lathe, and the remaining parts can be bought at the household goods store.
The only reason this technology cannot be used is corrosion and mechanical damage to the metal structure itself. In this case, the ball bearing is not subject to any restoration and, accordingly, further operation as well.