Front ball joint help needed asap (Sorted)

[ross-taylor]

im fitting polly bushes and thought i would fit my new ball joints ive had sitting around for about half a year. is there any way to get the old ones off without a tool as i have killed the thread on the old ones trying and in now stuck on what to do as i need the old ones off as i cant put the nut back on anymore so i cant drive the car.

im an idiot.

help please

[LimeyMk1]

You really do need a ball joint splitter to do the job Ross, they're not too pricey from a tool shop and definitely worth the outlay. Just remember to keep clear when they pop I've had them come off at quite a rate of knots.

Alternative I guess is if the lower arms are off the car is to take them to a garage and get the guys there to remove them for some beer tokens.

You'd want summat like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... 8C01A3WYA4

[ross-taylor]

i thought that would be the case there is a shop open tomorrow morning that is walking distance so i will take a trip there and hope they sell a tool to do it i need to sort it tomorrow morning. fingers crossed.

[kaiowas]

I've never had much luck with balljoint splitters. Got a couple of different types and neither seem to do the job very effectively.

My usual technique is to remove the arm from the car, rest it on a block of wood with the ball joint end in the air and the thread on top. Stand on the arm to hold it steady, then repeatedly belt the end of the thread as hard as I can with the biggest hammer I have and after several blows they usually pop out.

[Finn]

This model seems to hold better:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-1793-Ball ... 512&sr=1-4

[ross-taylor]

I've never had much luck with balljoint splitters. Got a couple of different types and neither seem to do the job very effectively.

My usual technique is to remove the arm from the car, rest it on a block of wood with the ball joint end in the air and the thread on top. Stand on the arm to hold it steady, then repeatedly belt the end of the thread as hard as I can with the biggest hammer I have and after several blows they usually pop out.

This is the method i went for in the end instead of getting a splitter i used a bigger hammer and hit it harder and 3 hits and it was out. all the front is polly bushes and ball joints are now done just need a day to do the back of the car now. it feels better already so im looking forward to having it all done now.

Anyone got any tips for easyer ways to get the old bushes out easyer took me ages yeaterday.

[IanClements]

I bought this a few weeks back to do mine, not cheap but it worked well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400277981130? ... 1497.l2649

Whatever you do, don't use a sledgehammer to get the joint out like I did a couple of years back, it is possible to bend the control arms slightly which will screw up the handling.

These days I go with theory that once you've bought the right tool it's an investment and makes the job easier; boudn to use it again at some point.

[Hoylake_AW11]

Anyone got any tips for easyer ways to get the old bushes out easyer took me ages yeaterday.

I've just been replacing all the bushes on my own car today. I've still got one rear corner to do but getting there now. Had a real nightmare myself with the old bushes but eventually got them out using a 3 leg bearing puller, a socket slightly narrower than the bush to press against the edge, and a stack of washers.

[ross-taylor]

Anyone got any tips for easyer ways to get the old bushes out easyer took me ages yeaterday.

I've just been replacing all the bushes on my own car today. I've still got one rear corner to do but getting there now. Had a real nightmare myself with the old bushes but eventually got them out using a 3 leg bearing puller, a socket slightly narrower than the bush to press against the edge, and a stack of washers.

I might get one of them and go i thought there must be some sort of puller you could get. are the backs the same and as hard as the fronts ive not looked at them yet?

[Lauren]

The option I've always used, is to get the nut off, then jack up the hub, just to the point that it's got the weight of the front of the car on it. Then smack where the balljoint passes through the lower arm really hard.

I found that method to be pretty successful.

I'd spray in a load of plusgas the night before and spray it liberally before you start hitting it.

[un1eash]

I use the big hammer method, usually a few hits and it pops out.

[ross-taylor]

Big hammer worked really well but I did miss with a hammer today wile tapping the bush out and hit my hand really hard and my hand is now a dodgy colour so just make sure you hit what your aiming for lol.

[BIGBOBO]

This model seems to hold better:

If you get one like this, make sure you get a big one, the smaller ones don't fit on the ball joints. (Only on the tie rods)

Anyone got any tips for easyer ways to get the old bushes out easyer took me ages yeaterday.

Burn them.

Hold them above one of those little camping gaz stoves and they'll set on fire quickly, let them burn for a bit and push them out with a long screwdriver.

[PW@Woodsport]

The option I've always used, is to get the nut off, then jack up the hub, just to the point that it's got the weight of the front of the car on it. Then smack where the balljoint passes through the lower arm really hard.

I found that method to be pretty successful.

+1 on this, i've never used a balljoint splitter in all my years working on Mr2s, the joint will pop out if you give the lower arm a couple of hard hits on the side where the joint passes through it, this has never failed to work for me, i've never had to hit the thread or remove the arm to separate the joint, just shock the arm and it will work.

[un1eash]

This is my bush removal tool...

[elbon50]

My Father never owned a balljoint splitter & neither have I

The methods outlined by PW, Lauren & others are all you need

ie a big hammer and hit in the correct place to shock the tapered end of the balljoint

[LimeyMk1]

My Father never owned a balljoint splitter & neither have I

The methods outlined by PW, Lauren & others are all you need

ie a big hammer and hit in the correct place to shock the tapered end of the balljoint

I don't think those methods would work particularly well on a Surf though, the ball joints needed a hell of a lot of pressure to remove and I swear one of them broke the sound barrier when it came out (I forgot to leave the nut on).

Personally prefer not to beat the crap out of my suspension components but that's just me.

[elbon50]

My Father never owned a balljoint splitter & neither have I

The methods outlined by PW, Lauren & others are all you need

ie a big hammer and hit in the correct place to shock the tapered end of the balljoint

I don't think those methods would work particularly well on a Surf though, the ball joints needed a hell of a lot of pressure to remove and I swear one of them broke the sound barrier when it came out (I forgot to leave the nut on).

Personally prefer not to beat the crap out of my suspension components but that's just me.

I just love beating the crap out of things Chris

No, not really, one or two well aimed blows...

Leave the nut on slack of course

AND an assistant holding another big knocking stick at t'other side of the arm is good

True it's not guaranteed to work in all cases

[LimeyMk1]

No, not really, one or two well aimed blows...

Therein lies my problem, my aim sucks.

[ross-taylor]

No, not really, one or two well aimed blows...

Therein lies my problem, my aim sucks.

Mine too my aim sucks