Ball joint screws snapped...again!

[VR6 VDF 0]

a few weeks ago my passenger side ball joint bolts snapped ... and yesterday the same happened to the drivers side! arrgghh

My brother was driving approx. 20mph, thanksfully not any faster, coming off a bump when it collapsed and parked itself in the middle of the road. When I got down had a look the bolts were missing from the ball joint and the driveshaft had pooped out from the wheel bearing housing. anyway, got down to work, called out the AA and whilst waiting for them, managed to jack up the car, popped the driveshaft back in, re-fitted the ball joint and put spare bolts in there to hold it together.

Needless to say the the front is getting a whole new set of front suspension parts.

last time the drivershaft hadn't popped out, this time it did. would there be any parts broken that hold the driveshaft into the wheel housing?? I.e. outer CV etc?

Thanks

[spindat45 0]

Glad nobody was hurt or any major damage done. Sounds as though the centre nut worked loose if the outer CV joint was not attatched to the hub. The outer CV joint shouldn't work its way out of the hub, even with a snapped ball joint (imo). Whenever you undo that centre nut on the hub, I'd advise getting a repalcement nut. Either a nylock type or the squashed type. Also a good idea to use hammer gun and torque rench to make sure its tightened properly as they can work loose.

Kevin

[VR6 VDF 0]

Hi Kevin,

Sorry it wasnt the outer CV that came out of the hub, it was the splined driveshaft end that came out of the wheel bearing housing. Theres a splined bolt inside the wheel bearing housing which it locates onto and ive been told theres a circlip that locks the driveshaft in once its fully located onto the splined bolt.

I spoke to Charged VR and he mentioned that the circlip comes with the CV boot kit so I guess Ill have to change that over anyway as it got ripped off!

Having a look at it tonight so Ill try get some pics if I can.