Had an accident!!!
 

Driving home from work yesterday morning after a 12 hour shift and my lower arm ball joint decided to sheer off at 70mph. Absolutley 5hit myself but managed to control & wrestle her to the side of the road...........

http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/a...011_085227.jpg

http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/a...011_085233.jpg

http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/a...011_085239.jpg

No insurance involved as I didn't hit anyone or anything and didn't want to have my car written off!

Has been fixed but still need to get a new alloy, wing and tyre!!

this is the 3rd time ive seen this happen now to a zs:(

Oww! Lucky escape there! :)

Shame your not closer I'd give you the spare wing I have here, then you would just need to spray it up (probably cheaper than a new one)

At least its fixable though!

jeezo man! that could've been a lot worse if you hadnt controlled it! I'd have filled my pants if that happened to me...
Main thing is no injuries...

Kirk that sucks!

Hope your alright buddy, if you need a hand with anything give me a shout and I'll be over.

Was it the nut or the bolt itself? If it is the bolt (which it looks like) then I think someone needs too manufacture some titanium bolts....

Also mate, I have a buddy in Norwich selling a set of straights with rubber for £60 (Think its £60)

That's bad news, glad you and the car escaped major injuries, looking at your pics the sheared part of joint in the lower arm looks like it has some dark staining around it's edges, almost like corrosion damage has weakened it.

Another reason why I'm wary of uber cheap ball joints off ebay.

Well done for keeping it all together, bit of a shock by the look of it.

Hope you can find all the bits and get it sorted.

This is so scary, sad times... As said, glad you're ok, could have been worse.

Cheers guys, there's a scrappy near me in trophy blue and the guy only wants 25 for the wing and liner!
Thanks for the offer Dave, how good are those alloys?

Fair play for keeping it on the road mate
probably get a wind and an alloy for less than £100 easy :)

Yeah there should be some on the bay ;-)

ouch, pleased it wasn't more serious.

Exact message to me on FB

If you gonna by 4 you may as well use one for a awesome looking spare in the boot ;)

At least you survived without a scratch, to be able to fix it................

Another thing to check when I get a chance.

You lucky boy! Seen better wings of flaring wings ;)

Now I think I'll be looking to change my joints pronto!

hard think to check as its not the ball thats failed, its the actual pin, must be a stress fracture just hardened to the point of breaking

Two new joints now on. Amazingly no other internal damage! Dave could you please get hold of your mate as I will take those wheels if he'll let me have them? Also I have sourced a TB wing and liner for 25 quid!

Kirk, think you ought to buy some lotto tickets for tomorrow night.......................

:-D:-D:-D:-D

Will do mate!

EDIT: Messaged him, waiting for a reply

Woah! Your a lucky chap. So glad i didnt buy te cheapy ball joints that im about to replace on ebay. Eurocarpars do them for £20 (with discount code) if anyone is feeling just a bit paranoid now.

Glad your ok dude

Cheers Dave, I need to get new calipers too as I can feel the drivers side sticking. Also the tyre that the garage has put on is a 215-45-17 and its rubbing on the liner that is kanckered. So it's nearly fixed but not fully back to health just yet!
The tyre was just to get me home so I need to get another anyway!

Glad it wasn't more serious.

&

That is not the way to widen your arches :laugh:

Not good at all. must have gone with a right old bang. With our cars getting on a bit now and the milages on the up incidents like this are becoming a bit more of a reality :(.
Could have been far worse and gllad your safe.

scary stuff bud,glad you managed to get it all sorted,top man!!

I'll get his number

Did you get to keep the broken bits of the ball joint, it would be interesting to see some pics, it might give a few clues why it failed.

As said on fb main thing is your ok! Glad its being repaired!

Unfortunatly the spare wheel well is too shallow for a full size spare by about 2". You could do it if you ditch the carpet or make a false floor.

Cheers Dave, I'll PM you my number!!

I think it's left on the A47 ;)

Im glad your ok mate, looks ficking savage tbh. Glad your fixing it up

That may be true, but found out that the spare wheel won't go on the front and that you have to put it on the back and put the alloy from the back onto the front. I never knew that!
So even if the carpet does stand slightly proud from the floor I prefer the idea of being able to put it on any corner in the event of a puncture.

No choice Luke really, need the car for work and right now I haven't got the funds to get anything different.

It's really knocked my confidence about the ZS now, and as previuosly said this has happened a few times with the ZS's. That is almost a good enough reason for me to start looking for a different car :( :(

That would have been a very scary moment you did well to hang onto that ,it could have been alot worse for you and the car glad to hear your getting it all sorted mate

Thanks mate, was very scary indeed. I literally had to fight with the car to get her to the side of the lay-by!

I know what you mean, Ive just ordered my company car and my hand has been forced into selling the ZS. Im truly gutted by needs must :(

I've been thinking about maybe doing her up, see how she feels but I might part ex it in for a modestly priced ZT 190. Not sure yet tho!

No keep her! You loved her last weekend :p