Hi there,

I have replaced a boot over my lower ball joint but the 'o' ring supplied keeps slipping off.  I noticed on the offside ball joint that there was a groove for the rubber o ring to slip into but the near side doesn't have this. It seems to have been sealed with a liquid gasket or other adhesive.

I can get the boot to sit over the ball joint comfortably but I would like some advice on how to make sure it doesn't slip off. I have a metal ring that I could use.

My question is, I need to fit this as part of my car's retest MOT, will the garage question the technique I use to secure the boot in place or will their only concern be that it secured in place?

Thanks for your advice.

 

J.

The method of securing it won’t matter as long as it looks like it will stay on for a while and doesn’t look like whatever is used to secure it will damage the rubber. Eg If you used sharp narrow wire he might say look that’s no good as it’s already starting to cut the rubber. A cable tie might do. I assume the metal fixed part of ball joint may have a groove in it to help secure rubber to. If that grove is filled up with crud, corrosion I would carefully clean it out with a sharp screwdriver or broken end of hacksaw blade. If you the secure the rubber with cable tie for example it should squeeze the rubber into the groove to help it stop slipping off

If it's an aftermarket wishbone, it might not be designed in a way that's replaceable...just glued on as you suggested.  

I must admit, I've never replaced one as grit had always got in and wrecked the ball time it was noticed.  

Apologies for talking about the groove in my post, I had forgotten you had already said it didn’t have one.  I have never replaced one of these rubber boots either.

Just replace the ball joint for the sake of a tenner or so. It'll only get picked up on the MOT in a few years time for excess play as there will be loads of grit in it now.

22 hours ago, isetta said:

The method of securing it won’t matter as long as it looks like it will stay on for a while and doesn’t look like whatever is used to secure it will damage the rubber. Eg If you used sharp narrow wire he might say look that’s no good as it’s already starting to cut the rubber. A cable tie might do. I assume the metal fixed part of ball joint may have a groove in it to help secure rubber to. If that grove is filled up with crud, corrosion I would carefully clean it out with a sharp screwdriver or broken end of hacksaw blade. If you the secure the rubber with cable tie for example it should squeeze the rubber into the groove to help it stop slipping off

Thank you for your reply.  I never even thought of using a cable tie to do the job but it does make sense.  The o-ring supplied was never going to secure the boot so I've actually decided to just change the whole ball joint unit.  I played about with the old ball joint and it actually doesn't have a groove around (unlike the off-side one) which may suggest it has been replaced at some point and this unit had the boot glued on.  That made me decide to just change the ball joint. 

J.

20 hours ago, isetta said:

Apologies for talking about the groove in my post, I had forgotten you had already said it didn’t have one.  I have never replaced one of these rubber boots either.

No worries, I was thinking the same as you, the groove must have been filled with crud etc.  Turned out not to be the case.  

22 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

If it's an aftermarket wishbone, it might not be designed in a way that's replaceable...just glued on as you suggested.  

I must admit, I've never replaced one as grit had always got in and wrecked the ball time it was noticed.  

Yes, I presume the same, easier to replace the whole ball joint unit. 

18 hours ago, Luke4efc said:

Just replace the ball joint for the sake of a tenner or so. It'll only get picked up on the MOT in a few years time for excess play as there will be loads of grit in it now.

Yes, that's exactly what I decided to do, Luke.  Makes much more sense. It's arriving this afternoon.  

33 minutes ago, jrobinson said:

Yes, that's exactly what I decided to do, Luke.  Makes much more sense. It's arriving this afternoon.  

Is your current BJ bolted or riveted? You'll need a good drill if it's riveted.

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Is your current BJ bolted or riveted? You'll need a good drill if it's riveted.

It was riveted, just like the off-side ball joint too.  I grinded the top and bottom of the rivets to get the ball joints out.  Fortunately, the replacements just bolt in.