Replacing N/S/F Bottom joint

[james_16v]

Recently developed a knock on the left hand side of my car when pulling off. After flicking through the history for the car noticed an advisory on the last MOT for slight play in near side front bottom joint.
Putting 2 + 2 together im guessing this is the cause of the knock only problem is I dont know what is the bottom joint!
Cant find a mention of it in Haynes or the online bently.
Could anybody point me in the right direction & how are they to replace.
Thanks

[molegti]

This would be the joint between the wishbone and the hub. Never changed one on a golf however its normally not too bad providing you can get the bolts undone.

[Dolly]

its one the bottom of the hub, underneath the CV boot area. its held in by a pinch bolt through the hub, undo this and beat the bottom arm with a hammer it should work its way out. youll then see its held to the bottom arm via 3 13mm bolts, undo these and it should slide out. new ball joint is around a fiver? but bottom arms are only like £20 with ball joint so may as well change the lot.

not sure the ball joint would cause a knocking noise, the bushes worn in the arm might...

[Ben Lessani]

Ball joint normally has a distinctive knock when going over speed bumps etc. and potholes.

Its easy to replace, should take about 15mins at most. The ball joint is the bluey bit at the end of the wishbone.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=49436.msg869371#msg869371

[AudiA8Quattro]

Its usually a straightfoward job, however the pinchbolt sometimes seizes in the hole, the nut will come off, but the bolt won't come out.
Also the balljoint can also seize badly in the hub, if this happens work the clamp apart with a chisel and hammer, but don't go mad as damage can occur.
The bracket on the inner part of the balljoint is on slots, if i remember right they need to set centrally, however it would be sensible to get the tracking and camber set after doing the job.

[james_16v]

Thanks for the replys everyone.
Seems straight forward enough as long as nothings seized!
I assume this is the one im after as mine is an 86 D reg?
http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=982

[Breaker]

if it is when moving off, or when starting to accelerate check the rear wishbone bush.

[Horney]

I need to mine. Pity they're not like the old mini ones which you could just re shim to take the play out.

nick

[james_16v]

if it is when moving off, or when starting to accelerate check the rear wishbone bush.

This is exactly when it happens, ill get it on some stands tomorrow and see whats what, maybe I should bite the bullet and replace the whole wishbone they seem cheap enough.
Ive been reading some horror stories though about the captive nut on the wishbone which could turn it into a mare of a job!