Oh man, this front suspension rebuild on the 240D is giving me a run for my money. I have everything apart. I managed to seperate the LCA from the ball joint. And now the challenge for the day is getting the stinking ball joint out of the steering knuckle. I started out using a large socket and a sledge to try and pound it out. Nothing - couldn't even get it to budge. So then I wised up - or so I thought. I don't have a press, but I realized I could lay the knuckle on its side in my vice, place the socket to the bottom of the ball joint, and try to press it out that way. When I saw that I could actually get it all lined up pretty well, I really thought I was going to press that sucker out. I tightened it up good by hand, then I put a piece of long pipe on the vice arm to get extra leverage. Twist, twist, twist - ever so slowly - twist, twist, twist - put on safety glasses just in case - twsit, twist, twist, - getting excited because I know this is going to work - twist, twist . . . BANG!!! Piece of crap Harbor Freight vice busts in half!!! Actually, I guess I am not all that surprised. I should not have expected much from the crappy Chinese cast iron. Regardless, I'll be hauling it back to HF tomorrow to get my $65 refunded, I do not want another one.

I think after stopping by HF tomorrow I will drive down to the shop and see how much it will cost to have these pressed out and new ones pressed in - sometimes you just have to know when to say when.

Oh, and BTW, the vice in question is Item # 32115. "Industrial Quality" 5 inch - 360 degree swivel vise. My wife has the camera or I would definately post a pic of this piece of garbage.

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'95 E300D ("Tank") - 231,000 miles
'79 240D ("Biscuit") - 197,250 miles (Sold)
'83 240D ("Ding-Ding") - 217,000 miles (Death by deer)
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"Back off, man. I’m a scientist” ~ Peter Venkman