Yep thats the thing i thought well i've popped them off a couple of times (swapping wishbones around changing to ti turnbuckles) so I fitted new ones and never touched them and they popped of Sunday, i have not tried new balls
yet though just new sockets.
I was thinking of getting these
http://www.southwatercycles.com/prod...59p31844&rs=gb
and drilling them through, chopping the top of the socket off and then bolting all the way through.