50 replies to this topic

[valve bounce]

I wonder if anyone bothers to grease (along with the top and rear arms) and check their minis balljoints every 3k or 3months anymore?

i do, i check the car over fully and do a full grease every 3 months, i usually do the oil/filter and grease clean and adjust the rear brakes at the same time. i always find if i maintain it, it brakes down less. 1 brake down in 12months (8500miles) is quite good in my book

[jaydee]

I wonder if anyone bothers to grease (along with the top and rear arms) and check their minis balljoints every 3k or 3months anymore?

I'm curious too, because i guess even the MOT tester havent checked..

[jaydee]

i finally get it stopped, get out walk to the front left to find this.........................................................

Was the car lowered?

[ryan22_lgm]

My car failed mot on a ball joint last time they advised to grease it up. this is not the correct way to fix the play. i have since replaced all 4 and lapped them in correctly as described in the mini addicts video. i am always checking for play and greasing all the points around the car as im scared this will happen!
glad you came out of it ok! and that your body work hasnt been damaged

[thebullet]

It makes me think everytime I hear about one of these :/

[joshspragg]

this is my biggest fear. i was going down a massive hill doing 60 and i thought if my ball joint snaps i'm screwed! get them greased soon i think :)

[Mrt88]

So some good news for everyone, and bad news for me.

Closer inspection this morning now its on the lift, it wasn't the ball joint that caused the failure. it was a cracked hub (upright), when that failed it then took the ball joint with it. as its the first thing that you can obviously see then we thought it was that.

so looks like new hub, ball joint, possibly track rod ends etc. nothing that isn't fixable thankfully.

Edited by Mrt88, 11 April 2012 - 11:44 AM.

[Tommyboy12]

Happened to me too. Mine was a cracked hub also. It wrote the lower ball joint off in the process. Luckily I was doing about 15mph as I was about to pull into my driveway!

[paul_s]

I'm starting to get a bit nervous now - mine failed at the MOT because one of the joints had too much play. They shimmed it apparently, I'm guessing this might be no better than just packing it with grease?

Glad you're ok though and the car's not seriously damaged - a lucky escape! Hope you get it back on the road soon

[Mrt88]

Thanks buddy, she'll be done by tomorrow. most of it is back together.

[Hegnirst]

Ball joints breaking seems to be happening a lot lately, think I may take mine to get checked out

i was just thinking the same LOL

[Ryang556]

Ball joints breaking seems to be happening a lot lately, think I may take mine to get checked out

i was just thinking the same LOL

Think I may take it to mintro on Tuesday and leave it there for them to have a look while I'm at college

[HafMan]

Well after seeing all these occurences happening latley I think I may check mine.
Also what grease should be used on the mini?

[joshspragg]

So some good news for everyone, and bad news for me.

Closer inspection this morning now its on the lift, it wasn't the ball joint that caused the failure. it was a cracked hub (upright), when that failed it then took the ball joint with it. as its the first thing that you can obviously see then we thought it was that.

so looks like new hub, ball joint, possibly track rod ends etc. nothing that isn't fixable thankfully.

lol now you've scared us all that not only our ball joints are gonna snap but so are our hubs. i dont want to drive fast anymore at least now you know it wont happen again with the new parts (fingers crossed)

[minimissionary]

Did I just hear someone say "It'll never happen to me."