Anti Roll Bar Ball Joints

[Ben.]

I have just had my car MOT'd and they told me that the "Anti-Roll Bar Ball Joints" both sides on the front have excess play.
Not a failure however, but on the advice note.
I have been noticing a bit of banging over the last few weeks.
As I'm away from home for some time and have left my Haynes manual in the toilet...
Does anybody know what I need to do?
As they say "Ball Joint" I was wondering if it is that or the Bushes..?

Appreciate any advice as I will just have to get a garage to do the work since I'm working away.

Cheers

 

[Ben.]

I have located this....but it is confusing me more as I can't seem to find anything about "Ball Joints". I can understand that the rubber mounting wearing will increase noise and movement. I suppose I will have to wait for it to stop raining and go and have a look under the car.

 

[peartreeproductions]

I would think they are talking about part 5 in the diagram shown above which has a ball joint at each end. Normally levering with very large screw driver or a crow bar on a slack ball joint will reveal if it is worn or not.

Realoem lists the part as $45 but no idea where those prices comefrom but it would suggest it wont break the bank!

Someone with a manual needs to give you a point in the right direction as you normally have to apply the correct torque when replacing with the vehicle in a specific location i.e. wheel off the ground, not jacked up.

 

[Ben.]

Cheers, will wait and see if I can locate the part on the car if it ever stops raining

 

[bulldog5046]

yes they are refering to the droplinks (No. 5) and yes they will clunk/bang when worn. they wont be too expensive to replace.

bit of an old fashion setup though, didnt know the Z4 used them (still not looked under mine!)

 

[Ben.]

I have located this....but it is confusing me more as I can't seem to find anything about "Ball Joints". I can understand that the rubber mounting wearing will increase noise and movement. I suppose I will have to wait for it to stop raining and go and have a look under the car.

Just incase anybody searches and sees this post, I figured I would update it.
Just had the Drop Links replaced on both sides - they were really worn and the banging was getting a bit excessive.
The bloke at the garage said that he would have failed the MOT on them but it did pass a week before.
£100 all in - not too bad I suppose.

 

[lacroupade]

Droplinks have to be some of the simplest things to swap out, especially if you undo the c-clamp holding the ARB in place first....the bits are probably £30 or so?

 

[Ben.]

Droplinks have to be some of the simplest things to swap out, especially if you undo the c-clamp holding the ARB in place first....the bits are probably £30 or so?

I know, I checked the price. Only problem is that I'm up North away from home for another month with the car on the street and no tools. I'm then out of the country till mid January. I would have loved to tackle them but just don't have the time.