Had an advisory note with my MOT , bit of play on one of the front suspension ball joints - A Ford transit one with right hand thread- M18, suprised me really as it hasnt done that many miles!!
do Ford still make them - anyone know the part number??
garage recommended fitting genuine Ford part
cheers
Greg

motor factors can still get them i think (mine did a few years ago anyway) delphi ones they were.

takes yer pick

Locost Top Ball Joint -- Transit 1965 to 84 Drag Link End Right Hand Thread
Ford Part Number :17996516
QH (Quinton Hazel) Part Number QD1117RHT
AP (Automotive Products) Part Number TA298
Moprod Part number MDL1117R
Heyd Part Number F22.73
Lemforder Part Number 000.111.017.536
Redaelli Part Number F35
TRW Part Number 15ES0874
TVA Part Number F7.1
Unipart Part Number GSJ112
Frap Part Number 168
Ehreneich Part Number 022-8146-134-291

Hi

The reason most of these joints fail is due to the fact that the desighn of the suspension means that the top joint. ( transit ) is the restricting part of the suspension travel. If the car is jacked up the damper should stop the suspension traveling apart ( droop ) before the joints lock out of there articulation. In the majority of cases this dose not happen and it's the top joint that then becomes the limiting factor. Thus they tend to get strained inside and develop play. Usually the case if they are relatively low mileage with play.

There's also only two manufacturers of the joint. QH is one and the rest are all the same just re boxed n branded. Although there are some spurious ones around.

Cheers Matt

I've never had one of these joints need replacing due to play yet - they all seem to end up with the rubber dust cover breaking up (probably as the car is kept outside most of the time) and it's almost as easy to change the joint as the rubber.