Replacement cost of front upper and lower ball joint rubber seals | FerrariChat

Replacement cost of front upper and lower ball joint rubber seals

Discussion in '612/599' started by odf911, Jul 28, 2020.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. odf911

    odf911 Formula Junior

    Nov 30, 2013
    520
    London UK (Chelsea)
    Full Name:
    Olivier
    Any idea what kind of cost i am looking at? Not sure only the rubber seals can be replaced or the whole part? how many man hours per corner? Thanks for the info ...
     
  2. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 25, 2005
    8,682
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    John Zornes
    You would have to take it pretty far apart, why wouldn't you just replace them? The labor difference can't be much at that point.
     
  3. GasAdams

    GasAdams Rookie

    Jun 17, 2020
    43
    Full Name:
    Gas Adams
    I just had my front lower outer suspension ball joints replaced. It was $1,400.
     
  4. Rex71

    Rex71 Formula Junior

    Mar 24, 2007
    349
    Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
    Full Name:
    Majd B.
    Hill Engineering makes ball joints & seals that are much better in quality than OEM parts and the price is reasonable too.
     
  5. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,984
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    Affirmative, get OEM and replace them again much too soon. Same for the 360 and F430.
     
  6. bamaman

    bamaman Formula Junior

    Nov 27, 2015
    638
    Mobile Alabama
    Full Name:
    William M (B.J.) Lyon, Jr.
    My rubber covers are split and OEM tie rod ends are $750 each, so I bought two Hill Engineering ends for $450 total from RIcambi. Better quality.
     
    odf911 likes this.
  7. Inadeje

    Inadeje Karting

    Mine were done by Sam (owner) at Stradale UK. It wasn't very expensive at all. If I recall correctly it was just under 1k pounds. I also changed the tie rods.
     
    odf911 likes this.
  8. odf911

    odf911 Formula Junior

    Nov 30, 2013
    520
    London UK (Chelsea)
    Full Name:
    Olivier
    Thanks I looked into that. In the end only the seals needed replacement. I think it took about 3h so not a big deal this time!
     
  9. odf911

    odf911 Formula Junior

    Nov 30, 2013
    520
    London UK (Chelsea)
    Full Name:
    Olivier
    Thanks, I also had a crack in the undertray and needed an oil change and overall check. All together it was about $1,300 ..
     
  10. marcmc8867

    marcmc8867 Formula Junior

    Jul 27, 2004
    997
    NC
    Full Name:
    Marc M.
    All, were your replies on this post for 599 or 612? I have both cars, just curious. Thanks
     
  11. Teejay

    Teejay Rookie

    Sep 12, 2017
    39
    Full Name:
    Tim Jenner
    Does anyone here have experience of Prekom manufacture ball joints? Made in Slovenia, the company seems to specialise in Porsche and Ferrari replacement suspension components. Certainly cheaper than OEM and Hills but how does quality compare?
     
  12. brogenville

    brogenville Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2012
    2,004
    UK
    Full Name:
    Robin
    So I've just bought a Prekom lower ball joint. They are reported to be equivalent quality to Hills, but a good bit cheaper (£80 for the joint, boots and adhesive sold as a kit).

    They're all stainless in construction (like Hill), and the boots provided appear to be an improvement on OEM and Hill, as the circlip is integrated into the boot itself (the boot is literally cast around the circlip). Logically this should lead to a better seal, as there aren't any holes in the boot for the clip. Will report back any feedback I have on them. To inspect, they seem to be of excellent quality and the ball is very tight in the joint, though the proof is in the long term durability.
     
    evanmcm likes this.
  13. Teejay

    Teejay Rookie

    Sep 12, 2017
    39
    Full Name:
    Tim Jenner
    I can't see why they shouldn't be fit for purpose - will be very interested to hear how they perform. Ideally it should be a long time before you have anything to report!
     
    brogenville likes this.
  14. QtrItalian

    QtrItalian Karting

    Jan 22, 2021
    172
    When taking the whole control arm assembly off to be able to oven-heat the ball joint glue (although someone here seemed to state the glue would dry in a day anyhow) is the alignment now off? In otherwords the two bolts holding the control arm to the frame: are they fixated precisely so an alignment can be considered unnecessary? I'm asking prematurely as I have not secured a 612 but as I've done this work on other cars I am mentally considering a future weekend experience in the garage.....Thanks!
     
  15. brogenville

    brogenville Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2012
    2,004
    UK
    Full Name:
    Robin
    On the 612 (and similar vintage ferraris), the lower control arm camber adjustment is done using metal shims. As long as they all go back in, then the camber remains unaffected.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
    QtrItalian likes this.
  16. Teejay

    Teejay Rookie

    Sep 12, 2017
    39
    Full Name:
    Tim Jenner
    It might just be worth adding that, if you suspect there is ball joint wear, then it's quite likely the track rod ends will need replacing as well. In which case an alignment check would be needed.
     
  17. brogenville

    brogenville Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2012
    2,004
    UK
    Full Name:
    Robin
    Changed out the ball joint this evening. The Prekom ball join seems of great quality - very tight and perfect fitment. All stainless steel construction too like Hill, though without PMI I can't say what grade.

    The old Ferrari boots are actually more like the Prekom ones than I thought, as the circlip is bonded into them too. The material is slightly different, and the Ferrari boots have holes in them where the circlip pliers go. Not surprising then that there was corrosion inside the boot then.

    Change out was easy - no special tools- just some big sockets and a bench vice.


    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  18. bamaman

    bamaman Formula Junior

    Nov 27, 2015
    638
    Mobile Alabama
    Full Name:
    William M (B.J.) Lyon, Jr.
    Seals from Hill Engineering will NOT fit without a pucker. We worked like hell and wondered what we were doing wrong until an old thread proved us right. Agree that he Hill Engineering ball joints are the best!!!
     
  19. brogenville

    brogenville Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2012
    2,004
    UK
    Full Name:
    Robin
    The "pucker" is an interesting comment. Both the seals I removed had a pretty bad pucker, but of the two Prekom seals, the first one (shown above) was slightly puckered, but the second one was perfectly smooth.I packed them both with lithium grease though, and being stainless, the seal should be less critical.
     
  20. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    The difference between Hill ball joints and other versions is the thickness of the plating. They'll all last "a while"... but when (not if) the boot gives up the ghost and road grit works inside, the Hill will survive the punishment much much longer.

    This will sound like an odd request.... but @brogenville , can you take a picture of your dirty old balls and post them here? I have seen a lot of balls recently, and some look gnarly (and make noise), while others are still mostly smooth (and still make noise). :eek:
     
    vr4henry likes this.
  21. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 25, 2005
    8,682
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    John Zornes
    I haven't see a request for photos of someone's balls recently. Well done!
     
    Nospinzone and 599_GTO like this.
  22. powersteer

    powersteer Rookie

    Sep 13, 2020
    29
    Will you guys recommend Hill Engineering ball joints or Prekom?

    What does "pucker" means?
     
  23. bamaman

    bamaman Formula Junior

    Nov 27, 2015
    638
    Mobile Alabama
    Full Name:
    William M (B.J.) Lyon, Jr.
    The lip does not seal entirely as though the diameter is too large, leaving a slight pucker,
     
  24. jimshadow

    jimshadow F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 19, 2006
    5,743
    Indiana
    Full Name:
    JIM

Share This Page