CriticalCommonSuspension

Alfa Romeo 147: Front Wishbone Rubber Ball Joint Deterioration

Front Wishbone Rubber Ball Joint Deterioration is a common suspension fault on the Alfa Romeo 147 on the 2001–2010 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the Alfa Romeo 147.

Vehicle: Alfa Romeo 147
Years: 2001–2010
System: Suspension

This page covers the Alfa Romeo 147 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Alfa Romeo 147 faults8 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The front lower wishbone on the 147 uses a pressed-in rubber boot ball joint rather than a greaseable metal ball joint, and this joint degrades from UV exposure, road contamination, and the constant high lateral loading of the 147's sporty front suspension geometry. The rubber boot cracks allowing grit ingress to the ball joint taper, which rapidly wears the interference fit and allows the joint to become loose. A failed ball joint allows uncontrolled camber and toe change under braking and cornering and in extreme cases can separate completely, causing sudden catastrophic loss of steering control. The 147's performance suspension geometry places higher loading on these joints than a conventional family car would experience.

What you would notice

Clunking from front suspension over bumps or during steering inputs
Vague or wandering steering feel particularly at motorway speeds
Uneven tyre wear concentrated on the inside front tyre edges
Vehicle pulling to one side during braking
Clicking sound from front wheel during low-speed parking lock-to-lock turns

How to check it

Where to look. Front lower wishbone ball joint at the outer end of the control arm on both sides

Any movement indicates worn ball joint or wheel bearing. Inspect the lower wishbone ball joint rubber boot for cracks or grease leakage. Request a recent four-wheel alignment printout and verify camber and toe figures are within specification. If a workshop inspection is possible: With the car raised on a hoist or stands, grasp each front wheel at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and attempt to rock it toward and away from the car.

Parts involved: Ball joint.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the front suspension been inspected or serviced recently?”
“Have the lower wishbone ball joints been replaced?”
“Does the car pull or feel vague when braking in a straight line?”

Now check the Alfa Romeo 147 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Alfa Romeo 147 buyer questions

Is front wishbone rubber ball joint deterioration serious on a Alfa Romeo 147?

We rate it critical and common on the Alfa Romeo 147. The front lower wishbone on the 147 uses a pressed-in rubber boot ball joint rather than a greaseable metal ball joint, and this joint degrades from UV exposure, road contamination, and the constant high lateral loading of the 147's sporty front suspension geometry. The rubber boot cracks allowing grit ingress to the ball joint taper, which rapidly wears the interference fit and allows the joint to become loose. A failed ball joint allows uncontrolled camber and toe change under braking and cornering and in extreme cases can separate completely, causing sudden catastrophic loss of steering control. The 147's performance suspension geometry places higher loading on these joints than a conventional family car would experience.

How much does it cost to fix on a Alfa Romeo 147?

$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Alfa Romeo 147 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2010 Alfa Romeo 147. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.