Dodgy Wheel

[Joe465]

Hi guys, new to this site in an attempt to figure out my problem. Basically my front left wheel is sat too far back and can be physically moved whilst the weight of the car is on it. If you grab the wheel it can be moved forwards and back.

I don't have a clue what this could be, any suggestions?

Cheers, Joe

[GT4 BOOSTER]

steering track rod end or a ball joint on the wishbone arm - either way dont drive it untill its fixed , as this sounds very dangeorus

[Joe465]

Cheers for the reply, just had a good look at it and in the haynes it refers to it as the control arm, im presuming this is aka the wishbone. It can be rotated completely and does not sit in the correct position as the end has come away where it sits in the holes. Ive tried searching for a replacement and can only seem to find different looking control arms. Mine appears to just be a single arm with only two ends as oppose to the ones online looking like they have three. Also the cv joint has gone on the left hand side and was wondering if the bar inside is meant to move all over the place?

Cheers, Joe

[GT4 BOOSTER]

i take it the bar you quote is the drive shaft - if so its possible the cv joint has broken from its clip inside - also very dangerous and needs fixed .

[Joe465]

From what i have researched it looks like a lower track control arm, but im not one hundred percent sure. It looks more or less exactly like this,

'http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-LOWER-TRACK-CONTROL-ARM-2-CELICA-2-0-GT4-93-NS-/250625374078?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a5a6fb77e'

[GT4 BOOSTER]

What you have there is Toyotas Superstrut Suspension , the steering is controlled by arm number 1 , joined at the hip by a figure of 8 link . if you look at the bottom ,just under the brake disc area you will see where the 2 arms go into the steering hub. .That arm on eBay is a decent price. TCB stocks these items but the eBay 1 is cheaper.

[Joe465]

Yeah that's bang on what it is, just wondering if it's an easy replace? Is it it a case of just two bolts or is it more complicated?

Cheers, joe

[GT4 BOOSTER]

Yeah that's bang on what it is, just wondering if it's an easy replace? Is it it a case of just two bolts or is it more complicated?

Cheers, joe

1 bolt fastens to the chassis under the door - you will also need the correct length ' CRUSH TUBE ' that the bolt goes through part number 90389-21003 get this from TCB. the ball joint at the other end should knock out but they are usually seized in to some degree , you may need a ball joint splitter.

[Joe465]

Can i ask what the crush tube is for? will i completely have to remove the ball joint to complete the task?

Cheers, Joe

[Joe465]

Sorry to double post but would you know of anywhere i can get a full cv axle assembly, including cv joints and boot? This would make the whole process much easier since this clearly needs replaced.:)

Cheers.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

crush tube acts as a spacer and sets the arm at the correct position , the bolt that holdsit in place must be torqued to the correct spec otherwise this part can knock like crazy and the crush tube is a once only application part , its only about £6 though . the ball joint is on the other end of the control arm and cant be removed as its part of the arm , you simply pop out the old ball joint from the camber control linkage and insert the new ball joint of the new arm .

[GT4 BOOSTER]

new cv joint with boot and clips can be bought from http://www.tcbparts.co.uk/ £58 plus vat .

[GT4 BOOSTER]

go here http://www.gtfours.co.uk/ in the left pane in the how to's ,SUSPENSION - look down the list at changing st205 lower control arms , all you need to do the job is there for you inc pictures.

[Joe465]

Thank you very much mate, cheers for your help.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

Anytime

[Joe465]

just one more little question bud, i dont quite understand the drive axle, is it split into three sections i take it? and how do the pieces connect? im guessing the driveshaft just slots straight into the cv joint?

Sorry for these silly questions but im an aircraft engineer and have no idea about cars haha.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

ha i make wallpaper so it dont figure , you have an inner cv joint then the shaft then the outer cv joint . the cv joints are usually held onto the shaft via a circlip or similar and sit in a groove so far up the shaft , be very carefull not to knock the threaded end of the cv or the nut will never go back on , make sure the new cv is on properly and then pack it with the grease supplied , watch for bits of grit and muck at this point , you dont want any getting in there , apply the rubber boot and cable ties provided ,mate the cv joint end to the hub and push , it should go on pretty easy if the splines are lined up properly DONT force it in with a hammer etc. you can use a hyde hammer for small taps if needed .

[Joe465]

cheers, i bought the car for 300 and the guy said there was only the brake discs and pads required for fixing until i looked deep into it, the whole front left side needs work, tyre was wrecked, bannana arm literally can be rotated in a circle its tht bad, just completely insecure, im not sure whether to use that crush tube because i dont think the actually rod is ruined, might just need securing properly and the crush tube will do just tht. How much play can be in a ball joint? as with the furthest back end of the track arm loosened off completely and by twisting it, the attached end with the ball joint moves quite a bit, im not sure whether this is normal or not.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

new ball joints are quite stiff to move by hand , but soon free up - a failed ball joint fails because the ball can be lifted in the joint and can potentially pop out , the side to side and round n round movements are ok , a failed banana arm ball joint would be knocking metal on metal , this is what they do when they are shot. so a celica owner basically has to spend a small fortune on a £10 ball joint .

the crush tube needs to renewed if changing the arm , because you have to hacksaw the old one off.

with the furthest back end of the track arm loosened off completely and by twisting it, the attached end with the ball joint moves quite a bit, im not sure whether this is normal or not. ?????????????? can you see this part in thepicture as im not 100% on what you refer to here .

[Joe465]

so is it possible to change that induvidual ball joint without getting a new arm? Also, im presume the arm has a big hole for the crush tube to fit through?

[Joe465]

There doesnt even appear to be a crush tube in there from where the rod is fitted?

[GT4 BOOSTER]

no , i already said the ball joint is part of the arm , it does not come off . unfortunatly .

crush tube fits in the chassis at the other end .

[Joe465]

new ball joints are quite stiff to move by hand , but soon free up - a failed ball joint fails because the ball can be lifted in the joint and can potentially pop out , the side to side and round n round movements are ok , a failed banana arm ball joint would be knocking metal on metal , this is what they do when they are shot. so a celica owner basically has to spend a small fortune on a £10 ball joint .

the crush tube needs to renewed if changing the arm , because you have to hacksaw the old one off.

with the furthest back end of the track arm loosened off completely and by twisting it, the attached end with the ball joint moves quite a bit, im not sure whether this is normal or not. ?????????????? can you see this part in thepicture as im not 100% on what you refer to here .

The ball joint end has a lot of play when the other end is loosened off

[GT4 BOOSTER]

Toyota should never have used the superstrut parts on the 3sge celica , the ordinary mcphearson struts were all thats needed - its all just money money money . or yen yen yen . :!Removed!:

with the chassis end loose on the bananaarm you will find it moves , its meant to do that , its an up and down movement on the ball joint you dont want . i doubt you can even replicate that movement with it off the car to be honset.

[Joe465]

yup, couldnt agree more, makes it more expensive and a nuisance. Mine being an import is making the whole thing so much more difficult aswell.