Please tell me if the mechanic has make a mistaken replacing my ball joints

[Tinman]

So I've assumed that if you provided your fitter with a set of 2 Cupra LCAs and a set of 2 lower swivels, all the correct parts to complete that job, then if one side has ended up wrong it follows that the other side must also be wrong - I'm hoping that you examined the set of 2 swivels when you received them and confirmed that they were really a matched pair and not just " 2 swivels".

The control arms and ball joints comes as separate parts, having check the parts is correct before given it to the mechanic with all new bolts and nuts, so they have incorrectly fitted the ball joints.

[RUM4MO]

Pity your parts fitter does not know or remember "the VW Group way" - ie with "handed parts, the part with the numerically lower part number, of a handed "pair" is always the LHS side - ie driver's side in main or at least Germany markets.

[Tinman]

Look like another thing need to be fix Either the CV or Shock Absorber

[RUM4MO]

Yup, I was wondering what the "goo" showing on the top of the LCA in your first picture was coming from - drive shaft boot damaged I'd think, but what did that?

Edit:- I should have included that the look/colour of that "stuff" matches that of the moly grease that is used in CV joints.

[amer6R]

Sorry for late reply if im looking correctly the arrow is pointing to front of the car ( seat ibiza) ( Markings R3 L4)
Knuckle LHD ( drivers side) - UK ( passanger side)


The track rod mounting ear faces the rear of the car

[iichel]

Pity your parts fitter does not know or remember "the VW Group way" - ie with "handed parts, the part with the numerically lower part number, of a handed "pair" is always the LHS side - ie driver's side in main or at least Germany markets.

"left is odd" is the way i always remember it

[RUM4MO]

Sorry for late reply if im looking correctly the arrow is pointing to front of the car ( seat ibiza) ( Markings R3 L4)
Knuckle LHD ( drivers side) - UK ( passanger side)
The track rod mounting ear faces the rear of the car

Yes, correct, the L4 "faces" the same direction as the arrow - ie forward on the LHS. You/we can also see the mounting points for the front disc brake callipers - which are at the front of the hub on these cars.

Edit:- I've always considered that the term "OS" and "NS" has no place in car discussions as it is only a "local" description - always use RHS and LHS as viewed from sitting in the driver's seat facing forward.

That hub looks very clean, I've just taken the RHS hub off my wife's August 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS - and the lower balljoint/swivel securing nut is just a round lump of rust - Northern UK uses a lot of salt on the roads in winter!

I've just been fitting new road springs before they break/snap in winter, due to rusting at the top and bottom, and a few other places that I've missed when carrying out annual services - and yes, all 4 road springs had significant rusting in 2 or more points on the springs, so one less worry as we moving into winter.

I'm kind of running out of time as this car has been out of use for 2 days, but I'm almost considering replacing the lower balljoints/swivels - but I don't have much spare time left to handle any major problems when replacing these lower balljoints/swivels - I do have all the parts and 3 balljoint splitters. This job looks easier to carry out while the hub is still mounted on the car - but the drive shafts removed - saves chasing a hub around the garage floor as I fight with the balljoint/swivel nut!

Any comments?

[RUM4MO]

Pity your parts fitter does not know or remember "the VW Group way" - ie with "handed parts, the part with the numerically lower part number, of a handed "pair" is always the LHS side - ie driver's side in main or at least Germany markets.

"left is odd" is the way i always remember it

I always remember that these cars is predominately built for use in LHD markets, so the LHS is the "master side" so its parts get priority.

[Tinman]

Hi, it has been about two months since my ball joints and cv boot has been fixed. Ive to do the ball joints twice, first time I just swap the old ball joints to the correct side, the wheel is more aligment to the middle of wheel arch, definitely feel the difference when driving. Two week later, I got a MOT advisory saying my driver side ball joint boot has a tear and leaking, so I replaced both ball joints with new OEM. Having the ball joint correctly fitted also put the camber alignment in spec.

The handling and feeling especally during cornering of my polo has been vastly improved, even better than when new as expected with new lca with soild rear bush, new oem front strut with poly top mount and poly arb bush (was already better even with the ball joint incorrecly fitted). Only downside is the higher nvh I get during acceleration in the 1000-1800rpm especially if I used third or higher to accelerate on that range, above 1800rpm nvh is more or less the same as before. I'm not sure if I need to make change to my engine mount. My gearbox mount is AS version, which I check when I had to removed my battery tray to perform a shifter alignment. Not sure if change the dog mount to a firmer one would help, only option I have if I want to keep the same part no for the dog mount (CHZC engine) is to get powerflex insert red or purple make for the Up GTI which can fit my dog mount.

[CNK]

In my older Polo 9n3, when I took the car to the mechanic, they replaced the tie rod ends...
Surprisingly, they even managed to align the camber

After that I've changed these parts myself in my 6R.


Here are some photos that might come in handy:

• Left guide joint 6R0407365B
• Right guide joint 6R0407366B
• Front suspension components