MOT Advisory - Ball Joint Dust Cover

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
2

Hello!

My MK2 (2000) has just passed its MOT but it has the following advisory;

002 Nearside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Im not sure which part from MX5 parts to order, I assume its one of the ball joint boots but not sure if upper or lower?

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/suspension-c-69_71_281.html?page=1&sort=2a

Cheers!

3

I advise leaving it until it fails. It’s a pig of a job and if it’s preventing ingress of dirt, that’s all that matters. They could easily last another decade like that (he probably spotted a crack at one end of it rather than in the middle)

4

Thanks for reply!

He said it was borderline fail and he was generous passing it and to get it done! Id rather just get it done and dusted but gonna get mechanic to do it!

Do you know which part it is from mx5parts?

 

5

Sorry but I would get it changed due to the fact it will only get worse & then if crap gets in there your end up having to put a new ball joint on.

6

Yeah im defo going to get it done,  just unsure which part to order!

7

Just remove the wheel & you’ll see if its the top or bottom one. Then give autolink a call they are very helpfull & you’ll have the part in no time as they are very fast

8

It’s easy to do yourself. I just done all mine on a project car Thumbs up

9

 Be a little carefull with this, it isn’t possible to simply replace the rubber cover on all ball joints, and if it is an upper you will have to change the whole arm (if it isn’t possible to change the cover)

the reason for this is that some ball joints have the cover pressed in and moulded on, so you cant remove it and replace it with another, which is a real pain

10

Fair enough Garath. I didn’t know this Thumbs up Any chance you have a picture to show the differance so i know what to keep an eye out for?

 

11

All of the ball joint dust covers on OE fitted ball joint are replaceable on MX-5/Roadsters apart from the anti-roll bar link ones on NB and NC.

 

12

Thanks everyone!

I’ll have a look which one it is! Hopefully its OE as its a recent import and has had some mods done underneath!

Cheers

 

 

13

 

 

We have found some that are not replaceable

14

 I have never come across any? even the pattern parts upper wisbone out now use OE Mazda ball joints, so you can still use the OE dust boots from Mazda

Never seen a after market ball joint on a wishbone, you have after market bottom ball joints and track rod ends that are different.

Gobby…

You are not that far from me, come and pop around and let me have a look.

M-m