Peugeot 406 front lower ball joints

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Mon 22 Jan 2007 15:08
Peugeot 406 front lower ball joints - Robin the Technician
Hi guys,
Thanks to local speed humps the front lower ball joints are clonking like a good un'. I want to change them but understand that you need a special socket to remove from the arm. I have been told that they can be undone with the appropriate hickory handled appliance and suitable punch. Anyone have any experience with removal of said ball joints? Do local motorist shops sell the special socket to aid removal or do i opt for the punch option.

Your advice and guidance - as always is greatly appreciated


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These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 16:47
Peugeot 406 front lower ball joints - RichardW
Are you sure it's the ball joints - they're normally long lived. The drop links on the other hand are made of cheese, and can make an awful racket when gone (think ball bearing in tin can!) - so much so you think the sub frame is about to fall out. Trouble is you can't usually see any play in them.... If you think the links are gone, don't bother messing about trying to undo them, just cut the nuts off with an angle grinder.

On the Xantia (which uses very similar hubs) there is lock tab washer that needs to be unpeened before you even try and undo the ball joint. I've not done it, but some folk say then can do them in situ with a hammer and punch, some say it's easier to whip the hub off and get it in vice to attack the joint. Don't even bother with the socket to get the joint out - it'll likely just wreck itself. Heating the hub may help too, as the originals are locktited in. Use the socket to tighten the new joints - they're pretty tight though
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RichardW

Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Tue 23 Jan 2007 09:02
Peugeot 406 front lower ball joints - Robin the Technician
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the info. These drop links - are they what look to be a long rod with a small ball joint on each end that sit vertically next to the macpherson strut (I think one end is attached to the anti roll bar?). If so they look fairly easy to replace. I'm not 100% sure if the noise is the lower ball joints but the car does clonk heavily over bumps. I did replace the anti roll bar bushes which were slightly worn but it made no difference to the noise. The wife has now noticed the noise so i've got to fix it.

Thanks


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These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
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