You couldn't make it up...

[spartacus]

So today I'm driving to Sheffield in my shitty old Kangoo, having just achieved the heady heights of 70mph ish, (Speedo doesn't work), I slow down for the last bit of dual carriageway, 40ish, then suddenly, BANG and the van pulls violently to the right with an obvious offside wheel lock up.

I manage to get it to the side of the road to take a look, the fucking lower ball joint has sheared off, so now the wheel is at an insane angle to the bodywork, like some yodrift car, pulling the driveshaft out of the gearbox end at the same time.

After an aborted attempt by one recovery guy another turns up and drags it on to his flatbed.

He's an OK guy and on the way to my folks house we stop in at a local factors to pick up a ball joint, £8.00, result.

He drops the van off and I get the tools out, 30 mins total and the new part is on, all I need to do now is push the tripod on the end of the driveshaft into the flange on the gearbox...

 

 

 

 

It's fallen off on the way back, I've driven the same route twice now, but no sign of it. So tomorrow will be spent looking for a new one, to go on a van that only has about 40 days test left on it.

Ce la vie.

[Rocket88]

bumhats............................

[stillOrange]

You've made that up, haven't you?

 

Were there any advisories about the parts you're changing? That would be a bonus.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Had the same on a Niva

 

It made a 'donk' noise. Friend and I looked at each other.

Then it lurched into a ditch.

 

It was a fault in the metal rather than a worn joint. I still have it somewhere.

[Tamworthbay]

Many years ago the balljoints failed on the front passenger side wheel on my mates mini. The wheel parted company with the car and we had to retrieve it from Pentagon Vauxhaul display area where it had narrowly missed rearranging several cavaliers and astras.

[JayW]

Had similar on a mk3 cavalier about 15 years ago. Although, that was a TCA stress fractured right across the middle!

[spartacus]

I wish I had made it up. I've driven the route again and found the part, so that's tomorrows job!

[DodgeRover]

I remember when this was all the rage for mk3/4/5 transits...

[DSdriver]

Ah, you found it - good news. I was going to suggest that it would either have fallen of at the scene of the crime or when removed from recovery wagon. Not on the recovery journey. Was I right?

[matty879]

bet it was one of those without the circlip,is the inner boot ok as theyre mega bucks.

[spartacus]

Yep, it was exactly at the scene of the crime! The inner boot has just slipped off, so I should be able to push it all back together.

[Tickman]

Coming down the A90 the other day there were two police cars blocking the inside land top protect a Renault Scenic with the front left wheel 20 yards behind the car. 

The wheel still had all of the hub still bolted to it.