Ball joints

The ball joints used on your car (common to the 360, 430, 599, 612) are not a durable item and were poorly sealed and lubricated when installed. They wear out quickly and 17K miles is not an unusual time to need replacement. I've done them at 9K miles on a clients Scud.

 

The grease inside can harden, typically gets waxy and has reduced lubrication capability. The rubber sealed for life type of boots over the joint also degrade with age. But unless the rubber is split, allowing moisture and such in there, the outcome will simply be they will eventually wear more quickly as a result of old grease. I would not replace until signs of wear actually are apparent.

 

Reading this in various places, has anyone considered redesigning them by simply providing a grease nipple thread and grease channel to an appropriate internal place?

Cheers, Bernhard

 

Be my guest.

 

Yes

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

Paul -

The Hill Engineering ball joints can be seen here: Hill Engineering Suspension Ball Joints - Ricambi America, Inc.

Ball joints are available individually, or as a "kit" with the dust boots. Hysol adhesive has a specific shelf life (we store ours in the fridge, per the manufacturer recommendation) to keep it 'usable' as long as possible. Give us a ring if you have any questions -- we'd be happy to assist.

 

Noise is the typical symptom. The Scuderia has no carpeting so there was an apparent "clicking" when going over uneven sufaces. I doubt the sound would have been loud enough to hear on a conventional road car until there was significantly more movement.

 

Yes -- assuming that "etc.." means 612.

 

Just for the record::
My '95 F355 has 65K total miles and 5K track miles and still does not have ball joint problems.

 

Apples and oranges.

 

It seems to me that ball joints that only last 10000-17000 miles is absurd. Has there ever been a law suit against Ferrari for using such low quality parts?

 

Reviving this thread:
I now have over 45K on my '08 599. I'm not hearing any chatter from the front end but I am planning on installing the Hill ball joint kit in the Spring as general maintenance.

 

They were chosen because they are light and low friction. Both important consideration on a performance car designed to handle very well. If you want it built like a tank, it will drive like one too. There was nothing low quality about them. If you want F1 style ball joints they will wear like F1 style ball joints.

I'd be far more concerned about the bill from replacing the space shuttle brakes that provide no advantage to a road car.

 

Thanks for the explanation. Was wondering why the life span was so short.

 

Lack of lubrication is a big part of the problem too. I'm doing a 430 now, and there isn't even a film of grease present on the old joints.

 

They are poorly sealed. Be surprised grease is not just washed out. As you know, Heim joints are not typically sealed. I think it was a poor choice for a street car but then that is my opinion on a lot of parts they use. Montezemelo set the company on a very different path and it has gone to lengths I think are just dumb.

 

It definitely is a poor design for a road car. I try to put grease behind the boots, but there's not room for much.
It is however a lot better choice of parts than the joints used on the Countach.

 

Whats a Countach?

 

Tractor