Bottom balljoint part number?.

[RayD]

With regard to being bent in the “wrong” place... as Gordon says it’s likely to be due to it coinciding with the hub carrier/steering arm connection...

Otherwise I can only think with it being forged, the thinnest part may not be the weakest.

Ray

[bobbrown]

I have now had a close look at the BMW option and they are not the same.

11.jpg

14.jpg

The two washers (different internal diameters) are the same ones placed on each of the two ball joints and there is a difference in the distance between the two so I would hazard a guess that the two tapers are not identical but will double check on the front hub when I get it unscrewed from the bench (at present used for brake fit checking).

Also the BMW one has an orientation to it hence the two cut out in the bottom flange which if it did fit would need to be positioned fore and aft.

12.jpg

13.jpg

bmw.jpg

[RayD]

No doubt on the BMW there’ll be something for that bottom flange indentation to coincide with.

It might be a good idea for the people who have fitted the BMW part to get to know from Bob how the indentation lines up with the cut-outs and check where theirs happens to have fallen.

The cut-outs will need to be lined up across the car, side to side.

I mentioned it elsewhere but it’s a good idea to coat the taper with marker pen ink – give it a swizzle round in the hole and check the contact area.


Ray

[RayD]

...

[bobbrown]

I have now checked on the hub and the BMW lower ball joint is NOT correct.

Even if you assumed the tapers are the same, the diameters are different; the original at the start of the taper is 14mm where as the BMW unit is 14.5mm.
The 0.5mm may not sound much but on tapers makes a big difference on how far into a given hole it will go.
In this case there is 6 to 8mm difference which probably why some pics show the boot more compressed.

Bob

[bobbrown]

Ray,

a.JPG

It is bent right at the point the lower half of the taper exists the hub carrier e.g between the shiney bits in the area where there is some pitting.
It looks like a shear load has been applied as it is a little offset as well like it has been hit at right angles.
Problem is I can not tell in which direction the force was applied
It could be from a deep pot hole or from kerb damage both would exert forces on the pin but in different directions if you get my drift.

Bob

[muley]

Is this meant to be this shape or is it bent?

DSCF0001.jpg

If it is, not sure of how, as it is bent in a strange place! in the thickest part????????????????????

another view pin turned 90 degrees

DSCF0002.jpg

It's bent

HTH

Jim

[RayD]

The mark on the inverted cone is in keeping with repeated or sustained pressure.

With it being a downward movement when the spindle gets closest to the cone makes it more of a mystery from a normal driving point of view.

If it was bent in one go a good candidate would be removing the drive shaft nut...think ... wheel off + in gear + breaker bar + scaffold pole + nothing supporting the bottom arm.

Ray