front end help really needed
 

got home last night, 200 mile drive went well.
this morning jacked up the car to replace the front pads..all went well until i replaced the wheel and checked for bearing/ball joint play. The driver side wheel has about 1/2" of play.
When i push on the caliper the entire knuckle and axle moves in and out. The play is coming from the lower ball joint on the lower control arm. Even the shock unit moves, I don't even need much pressure to get the whole thing to move. Does this sound like the lower control arm needs to be replaced?....i see the ball joint is riveted in, can this be drilled out and replaced rather than the entire control arm?
Is the control arm relatively easy to replace?.
I have not yet checked the other side, but i'm guessing by the tire wear that is shot also.
There is a tin collar around the ball joint which turns almost all the way round...normal? what is that collar for?

I'm bummed!

good news is passenger side does not have play :+)

iownme, yes, the lower ball joint can be drilled out and a new one installed using bolts. That is about the only way to do it without replacing the whole lower a-arm (which is not needed in most cases).

thanks Thermo, that lower arm looks expensive to replace!, any idea (other than google) where to get the balljoint?

Front Lower Ball Joint - SNG Barratt - Manchester NH
 

Hi
I found your Lower Ball Joint at SNG Barratt USA website. They are located in Manchester NH.

Here is the information listed on their website
Part No: XR841215BJ Price $36.08 each plus shipping
Lower Ball Joint
New S-Type / X-Type Front Suspension

You no longer need to change the whole vertical link / upright when you lower ball joint is worn.
Please be aware that this part will need to be pressed into your vertical link.
We recommend that this part be fitted by a competent mechanic.

I have not bought from them but I planned to when I need these kind of parts.

Here is the website link:
SNG Barratt - USA | Parts | Lower Ball Joint

Jim Lombardi

thanks Jim, but i just found 2 for $55 on ebay (new), i'll post a link, i saw them at the site you listed...$112 each if my memory is correct

here is the ebay #...$55 includes free international shipping
220485582808

Jim, the part you linked is for an S type, the X is totally different
here is the X one...
SNG Barratt - USA | Parts | Front Lower Balljoint

$112 each

Hi
The one that is $112 is the Original OEM manufacturer supplied lower ball joint. Per information on their website "Part No: C2S19367#
Jaguar X-Type. There is now no need to change the whole lower wishbone when you have play in your ball joint. Simply bolt on the new balljoint. This part is manufactured by the original manufacturer.
OEM Lemforder front lower balljoint." "This part is used in the following assemblies -New S-Type / X-Type Front Suspension"

The one I gave you a link to for $36 is the aftermarket supplier part and it is used in both the S-Type and the X-type (per the information on the webpage - "This part is used in the following assemblies -New S-Type / X-Type Front Suspension"

I have done a lot of research on suspension parts on SNG Barratt-USA website. They usually have the lowest price on these types of parts for Jaguar. They are also located very near you in Manchester NH.

Jim Lombardi

on one side of the page it says s type, and on the other it says x and s type, The one i listed shows a picture of the correct balljoint, the balljoint on the one you list not only looks different, but the specs says it has to be press fitted in, the X type is not press fitted. I don't think the one you listed is for the X.
Even if it were the correct one the ebay lising is still cheaper, just a heads up

Part No: XR841215BJ
New S-Type.

You no longer need to change the whole vertical link / upright when you lower ball joint is worn.
Please be aware that this part will need to be pressed into your vertical link.
We recommend that this part be fitted by a competent mechanic.

I am in the process of replacing the wheel bearings. Well, the large bolt that holds the knuckle to the strut is just about rounded off. (This is a used car and must have come from the north with the amount of rust on it. Salt licker!!) I have the space between the bolt and the pinch/clamp part of on the knuckle. In addition, I have the space for the lower ball joint. Neither of these want to separate. Any clue on how to do this?

The ball joint requires a ball joint press or a pickle fork. That will pop the ball joint apart from the spindle. As for the strut to spindle joint, what you will find you will have to do is to first lock the strut in place and then turn the spindle. THis will break the rust holding the two together. You will be able to see the spindle move independently of the strut. Then, you will need to take a large flat blade screw driver and drive it into the gap between the two sides of the spindle. This will force the spindle apart some as there is a small lip inside on the strut that you need to get beyond before the strut will slide up. Once you get the strut moving up, the rest is pretty cake from there. Granted, you may find that you will need to either remove the lower control arm or the entire lower suspension on one side as the lower control arm can not move low enough if you still have the ball joint in.