Steering/Suspension - Ball Joint Service Information
Date: June 2007Order No.: S-B-33.20/27
Supercedes:
Group: 33
SUBJECT:
MODEL 164, 216, 221, 251
MODEL 211 as of January 2007
Disassembling of Ball Joints with Race
In order to further improve the service lives of ball joints, a new technology has been introduced for the specified joints on the front axle. This is a metallic race (1, Figure 1 & 2) which is fixed in position between the ball joint and sealing bellows.
This race is firmly pressed onto the ball joint and improves sealing to the rotating sealing bellows together with the small clamping ring (2, Figure 2). The shape of the race alone defines the seating of the bellows without the influence of the conical pull-in. In this way, a basic improvement in the sealing and service life of the ball joints is achieved.
In order to safeguard the function of the new technology, please exercise caution to avoid damaging or deforming the race or allowing grease to enter the conical joint during assembly and disassembly.
If the race is deformed or damaged, the complete sealing concept is compromised and an early failure of the ball joint will result. In order to avoid this, only the special tool released in our repair methods (Special Tool is shown) should be used.
The following list shows which ball joints in which model series are equipped with a race:
Model 211 as of January 2007: Tie rod outer ball joint
Model 216, 221: Ball joint of upper transverse control arm and tie rod outer ball joint
Model 164, 251: Ball joint of upper transverse control arm and tie rod outer ball joint