MOT fail on 3200 front balljoints - advice please..

[Johnny Graham]

Hello folks, both my front lower suspension arm balljoints excessively playful I am told by MOT man. Seems a common enough problem, probably too many Scottish B roads and not enough autostrada.

Searches here and there suggest the options are
1. New arms at 400 per side
2. Used arms (might also be worn)
3. Press out old balljoints with extreme care because the arms are aluminium and replace with some new ones which arent available so a specialist has to CNC some...

Can anyone add anything, suggest other options. My 10 day re-test countdown has started...

Thanks in advance, Johnny

 

[Parisien]

Johnny, sorry to hear that, you've covered the options, I know people have refurbed the rear arms, which bits were done am not sure, also if arms similar to 4200s can refurb the bushes, don't know about the ball joints, price for ball joints and work (?) am sure someone will pass by and offer more helpful advice, let us know how you get on,

P

 

[deano]

Hi.ive also heard this,that the ball joints are not available,though for one cannot believe this as the cost to design ,develop and homologate such an item for such a small production run,would not be cost effevtive,therefore believe it is a parts bin part ,from were i dont know as ive not had to do mine yet,the same applies to tvr who also have press in ball joints,which measure up as jaguar items,
Though when mine do require doing i will try my best to find one that is the same,and let you allknow,unless someone has a balljoint or lower wishbone spare now,?

 

[conaero]

The old front lower balljoints!

Yes, known week spot. There have been some reports that you can tighten down the nut and take the play up.

They are the same lower arms that are on the GS and 4200 but they dont seem to wear, think the early 3200 were not very good. The later 4200 types do fit, but have an extra mounting hole or bracket, so they are different.

There have been many threads regarding re conditioning them, but I dont think there was any outcome. I know David Askew was looking into this, might be worth dropping him an email:

david@davidaskew.co.uk

I know new the pair are something ridiculous like a grand. David Askew sole me some used ones from a 4200 that had under 10k on them, and they worked a treat.

If you have a look here, they are £407 each plus VAT and delivery and are showing as a superseded part, but they are a different number from the 4200/GS:


http://www.eurospares.co.uk/partTable.asp?M=3&Mo=698&A=1&B=41500&S=

 

[Johnny Graham]

Thanks for the quick replies folks, much appreciated. I have already mailed David, but wonder if he is away as there is an uncharacteristic silence from him..also waiting to hear from eurospares - although their most recent 3200 has the same miles as mine (65k) - and the ferrarichecker bloke in Germany.

I saw a thread suggesting that Eurospares might be refurbing as they were asking for old arms in exchange..? Hmmm.

But now then, tightening a bolt is an idea I like.. I'm going to have a look see tonight..

Alternatively I think I would rather lose my test fee and just wait for some decent used ones to show up, rather than spending a thousand on new arms. Annoying as I waited 6 weeks for an ABS unit last year. Not many cars breaking at the moment though...

Cheers, J

 

[MAF260]

Might also be worth checking with somebody who posted either on here or the other forum that he was breaking a 3200 - I think in Holland. Hit the search button & see what comes up on both forums.

For the retest it may also be worth taking it to a Maser-friendly tester who understands the foibles of these cars and awards certificates accordingly. What I mean by this is somebody who understands how **** and useless the handbrake is, even when new parts have been fitted and adjusted correctly! Indies/specialists could push you in the right direction.

 

[Johnny Graham]

Thanks. Yes, I would/should have used my independent, but I foolishly let MOT and tax expire, which would have made it complicated to drive 1.5 hours down the motorway to the indie. I know if you book the car in for MOT there is some dispensation, but I wouldnt trust the insurance, and the car is pretty scary in these low temps anyway.

The car also failed on rear shocks (and rightly so, they are gubbed and due for a refurb) and a track rod end balljoint/arb bush - but not the handbrake!! Yipee!

DannyK in the netherlands doesnt seem to have much stuff left according to his last post, but I'll mail him anyway.

 

[conaero]

Jonny, David Askew can be a bit slow in response, just stick with it, it will be worth it.

 

[Spike62]

Johnny, mine failed last week on the very same problem.
Nearside front lower suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint
Offside front lower suspension are has excessive play in a ball joint

Advisory
Nearside front lower anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint
Off side the same

took mine to Emblem :

Parts L/H/F lower arm £461
R/H/F lower arm £461
Front link x 2 £121.20

Also had Front prop joint kit fitted at £192.50

Labour for the ball joint fit was £156 LHS £195 RHS

All had to have the dreadded 20% VAT on top.

I have written cheque out today for £2457.

Good luck !!

 

[Danny]

DannyK in the netherlands doesnt seem to have much stuff left according to his last post, but I'll mail him anyway.

I'll have to see what suspension parts are still left. I'll come back to you before the end of the weekend. Kind regards, Danny

 

[Pibbow]

Hi Jonny

Give Phill & Martin at MP Supercars Edinburgh a call. I know they can referb the Rear wish bone bushes and I think they can have these done as well.

Tell them Peter with the Ghibli GT & 3200 AC put you on to them.

Peter

 

[Johnny Graham]

Thanks once again folks. Danny, look forward to hearing from you!

Peter, I do use MP supercars for diagnostics and servicing (as did my car's previous custodian Nigw), but I figured it was too far from Dundee in a in an untaxed car, although a bit further to Arran right enough!

..also the car has been there for a long period of time last year, too with an ABS issue, and I was trying to stay away..fat chance! They're good guys, but life is busy, you know?

But...in retrospect I should have taken it to them for the MOT too. Thanks for the heads up about the rear arms, I'll drop them an email.

Edit: Peter, is yours the drastic yellow Ghibli? Lordy...

Edit2: Spoke to Martin at MP, they dont refurb them, but he is kindly going to look into alternatives for me.

 

[Pibbow]

Drastic!! It's Giallo Sprint you cheekey Bugger

Yep that's mine and I love it , makes me feel 18 again. Always torn when I open the Garage Ghibli or 3200 AC. I always use the Ghibli but My wife hates it so AC gets some used if she with me.

 

[Duncanofengland]

I am working on a kit to refurb the ball joints.

The problem is that the cup and cone, which is plastic, wears, causing play. I can get the cup and cone machined at a reasonable cost, but then there is the issue of replacing the cap, which is originally bonded on, so I will need to fabricate a screw-on plate and shims to be sure. I am still trying to locate the ball and pin, but if I am unsuccessful, then I can have a batch of them made.

If you are interested in getting in on this project, send me a personal email to duncanclarke@fsmail.net

Duncan

 

[Parisien]

Duncan, great news........hope the project works out and theres plenty of interest, you may want to post over the road too about this,

P

 

[nigw]

Johnny, I was at MP Supercars and mentioned that you'd posted about new suspension arms. They seemed a bit dubious that these would have worn enough to fail an MOT, but obviously they havent seen the car so perhaps they have. That said, my current 3200 had them replaced fairly recently. Is your MOT centre one you trust?

 

[Johnny Graham]

Thanks Nigel.
My MOT garage arent sheisters but they are probably quite strict - which is probably the safest if not the cheapest. Having said that, over the past year I have pulled over twice on the motorway with sudden very marked a wheel judder that felt like a flat. It disappeared after stopping and starting, and was probably the hub wobbling on the balljoints in retrospect. Yikes. Both front tyres failed too, because of uneven wear, even though the first thing I did was get an alignment. So, I'm not too suspicious. I have sourced a couple of replacement arms at reasonable cost, too, so not the end of the world.

The main headache is currently the rear shocks, which were making the car handle like a pig on ice and rightly deserved their MOT fail. Ended up removing the fuel tank to get decent access to the top mounts, what fun. Unfortunately just heard from Bilstein yesterday (great guys btw) that they cant be reconditioned cos of corrosion on the piston rods. So I'm shopping again, this time for rear adjustable shocks that arent junk. And so the car remains on axlestands outside my house looking very un-exotic for another week... :-(

 

[Parisien]

Sorry to hear of your travails JG....but you'll get there in the end. So looking for new shocks now, or due to cost good 2ndhand ones...or advisable to use?

P

 

[Parisien]

Not sure if its this guy or another but 3200 shocks are out there...sorry these are fronts, maybe contact him?

It is the same guy, hes advertised them before.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MASERATI-3200...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item336457d42b


P

 

[Parisien]

Ask David Askew if 2nd hand or this guy might have some

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/p_p_c_p/m.html

P