Hi,

Just changed the lower ball joints on my Felicia 1.3 MPi estate following advice already posted. Just would like to add that getting the original riveted ball joints off is virtually impossible with the wishbone on the car. After arsing about for ages grinding and trying to drill, I gave up and took the entire wishbone off. Removing the ball joint was now much easier. This is what I did:

• Grind off rivet heads on one side;
  
• Drill pilot hole through the centre of each rivet;
  
• Drill out rivet using 8mm drill bit. Don't go all the way through. When most of the way through, stop drilling, then punch out remains of the rivet.
  

It's probably easier to just replace the wishbone as well as the ball joint, but with wishbones at £75 on Eurocarparts, not very economical.

I also needed to replace the outer cv boot on one side. I followed the advice to 'tap' the cv joint off the end of the drive shaft, but soon discovered that it would take more of a 'whack'. To make this easier I used a cable tie to hold a block of wood up against the inner part of the cv joint. I was then able to hold onto the drive shaft while giving the block of wood a good whack. To get the cv joint back on, I slid it up to the circlip, passed the splined end of the cv joint back through the wheel hub, then whacked the cv joint back into place (using a block of wood as a drift).

Bob

Sounds a right pain. I didn't realise they were originally riveted from factory. What a daft idea on something like a ball joint! It'll be much easier next time, 12 years or so!!

It is surprising to find the ball joints riveted on, considering how DIY friendly the rest of the car is.

Riveted joints are much quicker, easier and more reliable in a mass production environment - All the cars I've had recently have been made like that, I can't even remember the last one that was bolt-on from the factory. But you're right, they are a real PITA to get off, and doing it on the car really isn't an option. In my experience I would stick with the standard Skoda wishbones rather than replace them with pattern ones - the pattern ones are thinner and dead weak; I bent a few on my rally cars before I realised the problem - you'd be going over some rough terrain and brake for a corner and suddenly the wheel would be hitting the back of the arch and that was game over! The standard ones on my last Felicia did a whole bunch of rallies and were absolutely fine aside from needing ball joints replaced now and again. Can't believe they're £75 now as well, they used to be about £25!