2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
The ball joint in modern cars is one of the elements of the steering wheel suspension system. Thanks to this support, the suspension arms are rigidly, but with some mobility, fixed to the wheel hub. This very support is located on the bottom of the car and is under severe stress. To protect the mechanism from the harmful effects of dust and dirt from the road, a ball joint boot is used.
Function
This part is designed as a hinge, with which the wheel hub is attached to the suspension arm. The main task that the element solves is to give the swivel wheel the freedom to move in horizontal planes, but to completely exclude movement in the vertical plane. But the ball part can be found not only as hub supports. They are also installed in the breakup levers, steering trapezoids.
Also, this hinge is found in some gas struts of the hood. Before insteadball joints used pivot joints. These are heavy mechanisms that require a significant amount of lubricants to work perfectly. Most importantly, the wheel received freedom to turn in only one axis, which was not the best way to affect the handling of the car as a whole. The engineers who created the ball joint already understood that it would experience incredible loads. Any impact from the roadway will be given to this hinge. The anther of the constant velocity joint and shock absorbers also suffer. All this negatively affects the he alth of the suspension and steering mechanism.
The detail was not coated with diamond coating, since there is not much point in this. And the mechanism itself has become a consumable, which, if necessary, can be easily replaced with a new one. The ball joint boot partially protects the hinge mechanism from wear due to the abrasive action of dirt and dust. Without this protective element, the life of the hinge would be several days.
How the support works
At the very beginning, this part looked like a housing in which a ball pin was installed, pressed through a metal plate by a spring. A ball joint boot was installed on top. In order for the part to work for more than two or three days, a sufficient amount of lubricants is laid inside. Those who maintain such parts know that the lubricant, or rather its quantity and quality, must be monitored regularly. But this design was not always used. When the era cameplastic, the spring was removed from the element. Part of the finger was enclosed in a piece resembling a hemisphere.
It was formed by plastic liners. More design has not changed, and the only change is the replacement of plastic with nylon, which has a greater resistance to wear. Manufacturers today produce serviced and maintenance free hinges. So, special oilers are installed on the serviced ones. They can be disassembled to change the lubricant. However, for the past ten years, collapsible structures have not been used.
How many ball joints are in a car?
The number of these hinges comes down to what type of suspension is installed in the car. The simplest MacPherson type systems use two elements. They are both located below. With the growth of leverage, the number of supports also increases.
On double-lever suspension systems, two supports are installed on each side - upper and lower. The most complex solutions can have up to five elements.
The need for anther
The boot on the ball joint has always been installed and it does not matter at all - collapsible hinge or not, separate or integrated into the lever. As is clear from the description of the action algorithm and the design of the support, it is constantly in motion. In order for the hinge to work as long as possible, it is necessary to have lubrication, as well as the cleanliness of rubbing surfaces. If sand, dirt or dust gets into the lubricants, or just on the rubbing surfaces, then thesesubstances will act as an abrasive. This will lead to intensive wear of parts rubbing together.
What should the boot look like?
The ball joint boot is designed to protect the mechanism from dirt, sand and other pollutants from the road. This is a rubber cover that is put on a specific node. In addition to protecting the part from dirt, the boot also prevents grease from leaking out of the hinge. The anther is tightly fixed on the support. In order for the element to perfectly fulfill its protective function, it has a number of specific characteristics and properties.
The part must be elastic, since the hinge is movable. Also, the product does not lose its properties in a fairly wide temperature range. In winter, when the air temperature can drop quite low, the anther is elastic. But it should be unnecessarily soft when exposed to high temperatures. The product is made of a material that is not susceptible to aggressive environments or chemicals. Most of the nodes that are protected by anthers, including the ball joint, are located on the outside. There is a certain risk that chemicals or reagents may get on their surface. Additionally, the anther is resistant to contact with fuels and lubricants. There is grease inside the assembly, which means that it will also be on the inner surface of the product. Grease leaks are also possible, and some of them end up on the outside of the part.
What does the item look like?
Boot of lower ball joint (or upper)is a mushroom-shaped case. The wide part of the element is put on directly on the body. The finger passes through a narrower opening. These products are often fixed only on the case. For this, a retaining ring is used. Finger fixation is not required. The shield is held in place by a snug fit.
Replacing the ball joint boot
If this part is damaged, it is very easy to replace it.
It is enough to disconnect the assembly from the wheel hub. Then, using a screwdriver, pry off the retaining ring, and the protective element can be easily removed from the support. Now you can install a new element, but before installing it, it is better to rinse the rubbing surfaces of the support and lubricate them. If the lower support fails, then both parts must be replaced, even if the upper one is intact. The anther of the upper ball joint also changes. Often it comes in a kit.
CV
Replacing the boot is inexpensive. Therefore, in case of damage, you do not need to delay the purchase. This part prevents the failure of the ball joint. Any diagnostics of the chassis and suspension of a car begins with a check of the seals. After all, if the anther is torn, then the knot that it protected will soon wear out. A VAZ ball joint boot can be bought for 200-300 rubles, but its role in the suspension system is quite serious. There are only three reasons why ball bearings fail. The first is shock loads on the suspension system. This happens when you drive over the rails at high speeds. The second reason is the lack of lubricationwhere it is needed. And finally, the third one is a destroyed anther. Therefore, do not underestimate the function of these elements. Timely replacement of the boot will prevent costly repairs to the ball joint.
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