Volkswagen Beetle BALL JOINTS AND PARTS
The front suspension ball joints fit into sockets on the control arms. To remove:Remove ball joint spindle assembly, loosen ball joint retainer nuts and remove the ball joints.
Inspect for wear and clean. Maximum wear on upper ball joint is .002in and the upper ball joint wear limit is .08 in. To measure the ball joint wear (clearance) remove the ball joint seal and use your feeler guage.
Check the free movement of the joint when greased. The joints should be easy moving.
To install: Insert the ball joints into control arm sockets. The mark at the grease nipple should be toward the front and the ball joints should be fully into the slots. The star washer and retainer nuts are applied (80 lb-ft.) This is for earlier ball joints (up to 1963). Later ball joints are fitted with a hex nut and a wave washer.
Ball joints up to 1963 required periodic lubrication. Newer ball joints are packed with grease. To be safe grease can be periodically added to the ball joints via the grease nipple (which is under a plastic plug on the ball joint.)
The later ball joint has a locating flat at the threads. To apply the hex nut to the ball joint use a 30mm wrench. The seal is fastened with a thin wire at the top and a retaining ring at the bottom.
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