VW Transporter (T25) Front Ball Joints - Quality?

soram · 26-09-2016 3:56pm #1

Hi All,
I have a 1980 air cooled T25 Camper. As it is 1980 it needs a CVRT. I've just had it tested and it failed on the lower ball joints in the front wishbones. The big load carrying ones. It failed 4 years ago on the same thing at one of its first tests - I replaced them. 2 years later they failed again with about 4,000 miles on them - I replaced them. Now 2 years later again they are gone with again about 5,000 miles only. They are a pain to replace as they need to be pressed in.
Does anybody have any other experience with these joints? I did read last time that maybe they were being all made in China and were of bad quality. Has anybody a clue as to who might sell 'good quality' ones? Or can they be damaged in any way during fitting that I need to look out for?

Cheers

hi5 · 26-09-2016 4:34pm

An obvious question maybe, but do they have grease nipples and are they full of grease?

w124man · 26-09-2016 7:32pm

hi5 wrote: »

An obvious question maybe, but do they have grease nipples and are they full of grease?

No they don't have grease nipples.
VW still do these joints as a spare part so you should try there first. If you have no luck there you should try
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/t3-parts/t3-suspension/ball-joints-and-bushes/ball-joint-t3-lower.html
These are usually Lemforder products and you can also get them from Otto in Tallaght. The Lemforder part number is 10159 03. Lemforder is the OEM to VW for this part.

w124man · 26-09-2016 7:36pm

This new site is weird. I cant edit anything

kadman · 26-09-2016 10:55pm

Easily damaged if they are fitted incorrectly, and must be orientated the right way.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/archive/index.php/o-t--t-538847--.html

same problem here.

soram · 27-09-2016 10:48am

w124man wrote: »

No they don't have grease nipples.
VW still do these joints as a spare part so you should try there first. If you have no luck there you should try
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/t3-parts/t3-suspension/ball-joints-and-bushes/ball-joint-t3-lower.html
These are usually Lemforder products and you can also get them from Otto in Tallaght. The Lemforder part number is 10159 03. Lemforder is the OEM to VW for this part.

Many thanks for that! I had called VW but they said the part was now discontinued. Also Otto did not have it listed on their website so I wrote them off though I see putting in your part number lists the part! Most of the other sites had Meyle which by all accounts are complete rubbish.
I will try to get the Lemforder ones.

Cheers

hi5 · 27-09-2016 4:57pm

Rockauto are good for that kind of stuff, I have had good luck with moog parts.
Sent it post and keep the order around €50 and you can sometimes avoid customs.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/volkswagen,1980,vanagon,2.0l+h4,1430504,suspension,ball+joint,10070?a=Referer+urlm.co.uk+URL+%2F%3Ffrom_co_uk

soram · 27-09-2016 8:22pm

hi5 wrote: »

Rockauto are good for that kind of stuff, I have had good luck with moog parts.
Sent it post and keep the order around €50 and you can sometimes avoid customs.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/volkswagen,1980,vanagon,2.0l+h4,1430504,suspension,ball+joint,10070?a=Referer+urlm.co.uk+URL+%2F%3Ffrom_co_uk

Hi - never heard of Rockauto but looks like a good site. I have read elsewhere the MOOGs are equivalent to the Lemforder. I'll probably get the Lemforder if I can now. Thanks all.

Now anybody know an easy way of getting the feckers out!

VW Transporter (T25) Front Ball Joints - Quality?

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