Hi all,

I just changed one (driver's side) ball joint on my '93 240. I've done this job countless times before and it has never changed alignment, but this time my steering is off about 75 degrees(!) Are there different ball joints available? The replacement is from my parts stash, but it was bought for a '92 or '93 and says "all 240 w/ pwr steering" on the box. It is a Meyle, made in Germany. The two looked similar when I had them side by side too.

Should I try a different part, try replacing both (I don't have another Meyle), look for other problems, or just get an alignment an not worry about it.

Thanks

Well, I decided that I should take it off and check to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. I didn't, but I also measured the two ball joints. The one taken off was much shorter (from bolt hole to center of joint) than the new one! That explains that.

I checked the other left side one I had against the old one and it was much closer, but still slightly longer. I put it on and now the steering wheel is only a few degrees off of center. I guess I'll just do the passenger side too and go for an alignment.

This was supposed to be free maintenance with parts on hand, not a trip to an alignment shop!

I wonder what is going on here though. I've done this on all of my previous 245s ('90, '92, '93 - and the current one is a '93 Classic) and have never had an issue like this. Strange.

Same or different manufacturer?

The original is unmarked as far as I can tell.

The one on now (also short) is a TRW from a Moog box.

The most problematic (long one), though probably the best quality, is a Meyle, made in Germany.

Are there different ball joints available?

There are three different ball joints for the 240. The symmetrical type with no distinct right or left and the asymmetrical type which was introduced sometime early in production for use on cars with power steering. The asymmetrical ones are what you are dealing with. Or should be.

It is possible to install any of these three joints on either side of any 240. But since you are replacing a left side power steering joint on the left side of a power steering car and you say they look the same, you must have the correct part.

274118-9 is the part number. Should be on the box.

It's hard to screw up a ball joint replacement and you have done this before without any problems. What do you mean when you say it is off about 75 degrees? What is off? How is it off?


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'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon

I do know about the symmetrical vs. asymmetrical ones, though I've never seen the former except on my '76. I'll take it off again today. Maybe it was actually a right side joint and I somehow didn't notice that it went the wrong way (though the box DOES say left). It was the last thing I did after a couple days of working on the car, so it is certainly possible that it is my fault. The part number on the box is 274188A.

What I mean by "off" is that before I did it, my steering wheel was [relatively] straight when the car was going straight (-). Now, the it is at about this angle: (/). It doesn't pull at all and will still go straight down the road when I let go of the wheel.

I thought it was hard to screw up a ball joint replacement too! Apparently I'm extra talented this weekend.

Any chance you put a pass-side ball joint on your driver's side? Otherwise, I've also done the job many times without changing alignment.

It's an easy job: pull it back off and double-check.
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240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio

I didn't think you could mix them up. Aren't the bolt holes and angle off? I checked the two side-by-side before I put it on too, and they looked the same. The box says left side.

I agree, you wouldn't think you could make that kind of mistake. I did it once but don't remember if the holes lined up or I caught from the mismatch.

If you checked them, you should be good. But the changed alignment doesn't make sense then.
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240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio