Anyone had experience of replacement Lower Ball Joints

[helen&tony]

Hi Ady
Purely out of interest, did you get the bushes in the wishbone...???...When mine was done, I bought a wishbone, and the bushes, and the local guy asked why replace the wishbone, as I was lucky to have 'em in good nick, but I seem to remember when I replaces bushes and balljoint, it was cheaper???
I'm excluding the cost of shipping, which is an arm and a leg...but worth it in the end...parts here are hugely expensive
Cheers
Helen

[Northern Bongolow]

yes helen, if you get a gen mazda one they come complete with bushes. last one i bought was £130 ish. ive heard they are now £160 ish.
there are a couple of guys who sell the gen bushes on ebay and balljoint, but the parts are quite expensive then you may need the wishbone, then you have to press in/out.
there are some really bad cheap copies also that dont last well.
if it has a gen ball joint fitted and its worn then the rubber bushes especially the rear one are on the way out, and the pivot that the rear bush sits on is usually worn so a new rubber only lasts half the time it should.

for the money and a long life fit a gen mazda complete arm with bushes and ball joint.

[helen&tony]

Hi Ady
That's useful...and makes the old cog-wheels of the mind click into place...I bought a genuine wishbone a couple of years back...and it came with just the ball-joint...something tells me that they removed the rear bushes and sold them separately if they should come complete ...suffice it to say I haven't dealt with them recently...I was charged 150.00 GBP 2 years back, and got the bushes separately. With post it ran out to a couple of hundred quid...more if i'd bought here. The garage I use for the simple tasks do a good job, and they have all the presses, and are honest...they won't replace a part if it's not needed, so I got balljoint and bushes for t'other side, as the guy looked perplexed at why I wanted the whole wishbone
Cheers
Helen