New Ball Joints and Hard Steering

kimbill · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject: New Ball Joints and Hard Steering

New ball joints were just installed in our ‘71 Ghia by a top notch VW shop. Now it seems the steering is tougher, and it doesn’t seem to come back to center freely. She even seems to wander (more), but that could be me over-reacting. The problem is compounded because the car is new to us -- only driven it a couple hundred miles, so I haven’t come to really “know the car”…… Is it possible replacing ball joints could cause tough steering, or is it just my imagination, or lack of strength?…. Damn, I wished I’d waited longer to get to know the car before the replacing ball joints, but I never thought joints could effect steering, if they really did.

Grandpa Bill

perrib · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject:

The new ball joints will be tight. Did you reset the camber and toe in. What condition is the steering stabilizer in?

ghia4mea · Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:04 am Post subject:

Hello Bill,
My 70 Ghia had the ball joints, tie rods etc, replaced about 6 weeks ago. I experienced the same thing you are. Very tight steering, not returning to center, and wander. It actually felt like bad parts had been installed.
I was advised to drive it and spend some time finding and driving on Florida's famous bumpy brick streets. After 6 weeks of frequent driving, the steering is better, the wander is less and I think it is going to be fine.
My thoughts are that it will be at least 6 months of driving before the steering is really broken in.
I too believe the wander is really me trying to cope with the very unusual feel of the new steering. My toe in etc was adjusted when the parts were installed. I watched the entire process so I know it was done.
It is significant to me that while the car was still in the air up on jacks, we turned the wheels by hand and my mechanic and I both remarked how hard it was to turn the wheels.
I hate to repeat a common statement but I think the ball joints and the rest of the front end parts we used are not the best quality.
Good luck, Ken

kimbill · Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: New Ball Joints and Hard Steering

Perrib: ...... The damper was replaced recently. I don't know about the toe-in.

ghia4mea: ..... Hello up there in-almost-Largo. Your similar ball joint experiemce has give me a great Xmas gift -- even better than the new fishing gear ......If you see an red ghia driving thru the brick streets of old St Petersburg (FL), that'll be me breaking in my new ball joints Very Happy

...... Hey, we gotta get together one of these days.

Merry Christmas everyone

Grandpa Bill

perrib · Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:28 am Post subject:

djkeev · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:35 am Post subject:

ghia4mea · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:00 am Post subject:

My parts were purchased at Fisher Buggy in Tampa Florida. No idea of the brand name, just what they give you when you ask for parts for a Ghia.

perrib · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:56 am Post subject:

Lemfordors are the strongest, Meyle, TRW are brazilian. There are others available but these are the most popular ones.

kimbill

But folks, ...... what is in the design, material, or whatever, of sub-standard ball joints that makes for the problems described in the original post?

Grandpa Bill

ghia4mea · Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

Bill I have no idea. I am pretty much a newbie too. I do recall that they did not have a grease fitting on them.
I just wish there was one place we could all go to and get quality parts. I would gladly pay very high prices if I could be sure the parts were OG quality or better.
The way it is now I feel like we are all playing Russian Roulette with these parts.

boat_builder · Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:13 pm Post subject:

I've just bought new ball joints for my ghia.

The brand is Lemförder for the lower joints and it says L&R on the upper ones.

I got mine at www.gsfcarparts.com

They had two options...a cheaper and a more expensive one...I went for the more expensive (was only a few euros extra)

kimbill · Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:10 pm Post subject:

djkeev · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:57 am Post subject:

kimbill · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:56 am Post subject:

boat_builder · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:00 pm Post subject:

I still haven't driven my car yet after the balljoint change....should get a chance tomorrow sometime and I'll let you know how it drives.

I would check your camber and toe-in though since they could be out of kilter. The default setting for camber is easy to check. Just look at the upper ball joint and you will see a large hexagonal nut just under the rubber boot, used to adjust the camber. It has a notch on one of its edges and the notch should face the front of the car as the default camber setting.

boat_builder · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:00 am Post subject:

Drove it this morning and it drives fine....the steering is very slightly heavier but really not much at all.
My accelerator cable snapped when I was about a mile from home.....sellotaped the throttle lever open so I could limp home!

kimbill · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:

Mint Jams · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:06 am Post subject:

I just replaced the ball joints for my beetle and experiencing the same heavy steering, does not return to the center and wanders alot. Parts are brazilian and I swear never to consider Brazilian parts again.

I came across companies like Moog and Mevotech offering quality ball joints for the beetle. I like to know if anyone have used ball joints from the two company? They are very expensive but can someone tell me if they are really premium stuff?
_________________
*Fire is a good servant but a bad master*

hudsonce · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:46 pm Post subject:

I drove my new 68 coupe for the first time yesterday. It wan't running when I bough it, so I had a local ACVW expert do everything it needed. He replaced the ball joints, and commented about the very tight steering afterwards. He told me he had done literally hudreds over the years, and something has changed in the recent manufacturing. He assured me that he used quality German parts (but has noted similar problems with recent Brazilian joints.) He says there's not really anything else to do, and the steering should come back to normal after some break-in. If anyone has more information, I'ld be interested to hear it. I haven't driven a VW for 20 years, and almost crashed on the very first drive.

Mint Jams · Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:57 am Post subject:

Have been driving since Feb when i chnaged the ball joints, it still is stiff like hell and it is so tiring to drive about town. Are there real quality parts we can get to have my light steering back? Crying or Very sad

_________________
*Fire is a good servant but a bad master*


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Ghia	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2