Ball joint Lada Largus - replacement, article, video

Car : Renault Logan. Asks : Vasily Petrovich. The essence of the question : Why don’t the new ball joints fit my Renault Logan?

Tell me which ball joints for Renault Logan are better to take so as not to grind them down with a file. This is not a joke, I just have a car from the second phase, that is, generation 2. I took new TRW supports, but they do not have a side groove. Have they really learned to fake it? If so, which brand is better to choose now? Otherwise, I’ve already replaced the stabilizer bars and changed the front shock absorber struts, but the car is still scouring the road. The creaking noise in the suspension was overcome by replacing the stabilizer bushings.

Article number and price for the original ball joint

On the Lada Largus car, two types of ball joints are used. Until June 2013, the knot had a finger with a diameter of 16 mm. An annular groove was made on the support. The article number for the old-style ball is 401604793R. The price of the part ranges from 680 to 850 rubles.

In the 2014 model range, new types of supports began to be used. The diameter of their finger was increased to 18 mm. The groove has also changed. It became lateral, which, according to the designers, increased the reliability of the unit. The catalog number of the new ball is 40160-2523R. The cost of the support is 500-1400 rubles.

Despite the fact that ball joints of different years of manufacture are successfully pressed into seats instead of each other, experienced car owners do not recommend doing this. Using a “foreign” support may cause a knock in the suspension, and a number of difficulties will arise during installation.

The balls are fixed using a bolt with an increased diameter inside. The old and new type support mounts are not interchangeable. When purchasing an unsuitable unit, car owners have to bore a groove for the bolt, which does not have the best effect on the reliability and safety of the suspension.

Article number and cost of analogues of original ball joints

There is no clear opinion among car owners about which supports are best to purchase. Some drivers advise purchasing original ball joints. In this case, there is 100% confidence that they will fit optimally into the seat. However, other Largus owners believe that the quality of the originals does not match the cost. For a comparable price you can buy an analogue that will last much longer. The best alternatives for original ball joints are presented in the tables below.

Table - Good analogues of ball 401604793R.

Table - Recommended Support Alternatives 40160-2523R.

Ball selection, articles

Almost all vehicle operation depends on the choice of spare suspension parts. Since the ball joint is responsible for the angle of inclination of the wheels at the moment of movement, the selection of this part must be taken seriously.

The original ball joint from Largus was removed during replacement. This code does not work on articles

Let's take a look at what ball joint options manufacturers provide for Largus:

The unique catalog number of the ball joint is 401604793R. Average cost in the Russian Federation (Russian Federation is a state in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, our Motherland)

is 4500-5000 rubles.

Ball analogues

The catalog of substitutes is presented in the table below. All these parts can be installed on a car without fear of poor performance.

An analogue of the unique ball for Largus from the TRW office with a radial groove

Diagnostics of the ball joint condition

Symptoms of the need to pay attention to the Largus ball joint are:

• there was a need to apply additional force when turning the steering wheel;
• driving over bumps, for example, a speed bump, is accompanied by a knocking sound from the front suspension;
• Uneven tire wear was detected;
• entering a turn is accompanied by extraneous sounds coming from the wheel arches;
• the steering wheel turns with a creaking or grinding sound;
• the car has become less obedient when entering a turn;
• When driving over bumps, controllability partially decreased and the car became unstable.

If you have the above symptoms, it is recommended to use the following algorithm for finding a ball fault.

• Hang it in front of Largus.
• Take the tire from above and below.
• Check that there is no play. To do this, you need to shake the wheel in a vertical plane. It should be borne in mind that the cause of movement may be not only the ball joint, but also worn steering tips or stabilizer links.

The main load-bearing element of the ball joint is the pin.
It is made of high carbon steel. On one side of the finger there is a sphere, which is located in a metal case. It is filled with polymer or grease. To prevent moisture, dirt and dust from entering, a protective cuff is placed on top. Abrasive particles and water pass through the boot freely if it is damaged. The sphere and its seat are subject to intense wear, and the lubricant dilutes and ceases to perform its functions. Therefore, when diagnosing a ball, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the boot. If cracks, punctures, holes or other holes are found, the support must be replaced.

Required tools and materials for DIY replacement

To replace the ball joint on Largus with your own hands, you will need the tools that are listed in the table below.

Table - Tools and materials required to replace the ball joint.

Ball joint Lada Largus: causes of malfunction and replacement rules

The ball joint is the most important element of the front suspension of a car. It allows you to perform basic control functions, turns and provides stable movement in a straight line. The design of the part ensures that the wheel is fixed in the vertical plane and rotates freely in the horizontal plane when turning. The ball joint was invented 40 years ago by an Italian engineer from the Fiat corporation, and its design has remained almost unchanged all this time.

Technical characteristics of the ball joint on Largus

The ball joint consists of a main load-bearing element - a pin made of high-carbon steel. On one side there is a sphere, and on the other there is a groove for mounting with a steering knuckle. The spherical part of the finger is located in a metal case filled with polymer, which dampens vibrations and shock loads when the car is moving. The support body is pressed into the suspension arm, and a boot is placed on top of it to prevent dirt and dust from entering.

The ball joint on Largus models produced before June 2013 had a pin with a diameter of 16 mm and an annular groove. In the supports that are installed on new models, the pin diameter is 18 mm, they have a side groove.

In fulfilling their purpose, ball joints are subjected to heavy loads, so stringent requirements are placed on their design and manufacturing technology. The support pin must withstand a force of up to 5 tons to be pulled out of the body. To ensure the high quality of this important unit, GOST 52433-2005 “Ball joints. Technical requirements and test methods”, which should guide both Russian and foreign manufacturers.

There is a wide variety of ball joints on the aftermarket market. The most reliable and best-selling brands are:

• Febi, Germany;
• Monroe, USA;
• Ruville, Germany;
• Delphi, USA;
• Mapco, Germany;
• Meyle, Germany;
• Tork auto, Türkiye.

With the same quality of supports, their cost on the market can differ by up to 40%. The choice of one brand or another depends on the personal preferences of the car enthusiast.

Parameters of supports for Largus

A ball joint has a basic structural unit - its load-bearing element - a special metal pin. Its lower part rotates in a hemisphere, and the upper end of this component is connected to the steering axle bracket. The hemisphere is located in the support body and rotates in a polymer shell, which is designed to dampen vibrations and prevent mutual friction of the metal surfaces of the part (hemisphere and body).

The product body itself is pressed into the suspension arm cage. To prevent dirt and other debris from getting into the working element (hemisphere), there is a rubber boot between the finger and the body.

Regarding Lada Largus. Note that on versions of the model produced before 2013, the ball joint had a pin with a groove and a diameter of 16 mm.

On modern modifications of the station wagon, the support pins have a pin increased to 18 mm in diameter, which has a side groove.

Due to their purpose, supports endure increased loads during operation, so the requirements for their reliability and quality are very high. For example, a finger must withstand the applied external force aimed at tearing it out of the body, reaching 5 tons.

To guide manufacturers in terms of quality indicators of supports, GOST 52433-2005 “Ball joints” was specially developed and implemented. Technical requirements and test methods." The provisions of this regulation must be followed not only by Russian, but also by foreign manufacturers.

Today's spare parts market will delight you with a wide range of support offers, each of which has its own catalog number, among which the following brands are the most profitable and confidence-inspiring:

• "Febi", "Ruville", "Mapco" and "Meyle" (all Germany);
• "Monroe" and "Delphi" (both USA);
• "Tork avto" (Türkiye).

The price of these products can vary by 40% or more, although the quality indicators will be approximately the same level. Here, the particular choice includes the personal preferences of the particular owner of the Lada Largus..

Breakdowns, diagnostics and repair options

The main reason for ball failure is its intense wear, which occurs when dirt, dust and other abrasive particles enter as a result of damage to the boot. At the initial stage, the problem is indicated by a creaking finger, difficulty turning the wheel and a spontaneous change in trajectory when the car moves in a straight line. If these malfunctions occur, the ball joint should be replaced.

You can diagnose the condition of the part yourself. To do this, you need to hang the front of the car and check the wheel play in the vertical plane. If there is play, the support must be replaced. You should check the condition of the boot and, if damaged, also replace it.

Repairing a ball joint is difficult to do with your own hands; this requires special equipment and polymer materials to fill the housing. It is better to entrust such work to specialists at a service station. They will replace the filler and polish the spherical part of the finger. Since the unit is responsible for safety while driving, it is better to use new and original spare parts.

Malfunctions, inspection and possibility of repair

Among the main reasons for premature wear of bearings is the ingress of dirt and abrasives into the hinge body. This option is possible if the protective boot breaks. The initial stage of this situation is accompanied by a suggestive creaking of the finger. There are also less difficulties when turning and unauthorized changes in the trajectory of the Lada Largus car, which runs in a straight line. This situation involves checking the condition of the supports and, if a defect is detected, urgent replacement.

It is possible to diagnose the part yourself. For this purpose, we hang out the required side of the car. We check the play of the steering knuckle by applying force to the hinge. We use a suitable mount. A worn-out product will immediately make itself known with a characteristic clicking sound inside the body of the part. If there is no play, and there are places where the shell is torn on the boot, then such a support should also be replaced, since it has very little time left to “live”.

Sometimes owners of Lada Largus. they resort not to replacing supports, but to their repair (so-called restoration). This work is very labor-intensive and requires the use of special equipment (press and other devices). You will also need to acquire polymer materials that will be integrated into the body of the product. We recommend entrusting work of this nature to professionals who have experience and equipment, although there are plenty of videos on this subject on the Internet.

Let us remind you that the supports are one of the parts that are responsible for safety, so the best measure would still be to replace the ball joint, preferably with the original version.

Reasons for replacement and rules for choosing parts

With significant wear of the ball, a large gap is formed between the spherical part of the pin and the plastic filler of the support body. This leads not only to a characteristic knock in the suspension, but also to the pin being pulled out of the body and the wheel folding under the car. At high speeds, the consequences can be unpredictable.

You should regularly check the condition of the boot on the ball joint for damage and cracks, especially after off-road driving. It is also important to control the wheel play in the vertical plane.

When choosing a ball, it is advisable to give preference to the original ones. Refurbished supports should not be used, despite their low cost. It is necessary to take into account the year of production of Largus in order to select a part with the correct groove and pin diameter.

How long do ball joints last on a Lada Largus?

Ball joints on Lada Largus are consumables that require constant inspection and periodic replacement. This is not to say that this is a weak unit that constantly fails.

In general, the chassis of the Lada Largus was borrowed from the Renault Logan, which was very, very good in terms of suspension reliability. Pay attention to taxi drivers who choose Renault Logan for work. Believe me, taxi drivers will not buy a brittle and damp car in order to constantly bother with its repair.

If we summarize the reviews from various forums and information sources, the ball joints on the Lada Largus last approximately 50-60 thousand km, after which they require replacement. Of course, there are isolated cases when ball bearings have traveled more than 100 thousand km, but this is most likely an exception to the rule than a pattern.

Here, not only the quality of the part plays a big role, but also the driving style. If the car is used by a careful driver and mainly in the city, then the ball joints last much longer. If the car is often used on bad roads, and even by not the most careful driver, then the ball joints will require replacement much earlier.