Red neck lower ball joint removal - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

charmalu · #61 01-23-2013, 04:07 PM

I used your Redneck removal, and it works pefect. I buried them about the depth you have yours, and had a 1/4" steel plate about 4x4" to drive against in the hole. one took 7 whacks and the other BJ 10 whacks with my Splitting mall. I used a 27mm, the flat against the BJ and a 11/16" inverted to pound of, both impact sockets.

I lucked out my Indy loaned me his MB BJ press. works like a charm. The Lemfoerders slid right in.

__________________

Charlie

funola · #62 01-23-2013, 05:35 PM

Hey Charlie, you're the first to try my hair brained (as others would call it) idea!

You're a brave dude.

Glad to hear it worked for you. I had so much fun with it I can't wait to do another one.

charmalu · #63 01-23-2013, 06:25 PM

I have another set of spare steering Knuckles to do. I want to have a set ready to install when I need to do the 240 some time next summer. Im glad you thought up to do it this way. nothing Hair brained at all.

wonder if anyone else tried it and didn`t post their results. much better this way than having someone hold it on the concrete while swinging the hammer.

We don`t know if any of the people on the sidelines not signed up have tried this way or not. we`ll never know. then there are those on the forum that read and don`t post their results either, unless thay have a problem.

I`ll have to wait untill things dry out, little muddy right now. one whack, and it would dissapear.

Don`t know if you posted in the beginning, but will need a Post Hole Digger and a tamping bar. I use an old Tortion Bar for a Tamper.
I don`t have the MB part# off hand.

Charlie

ytmtnman · #64 03-03-2013, 08:14 PM

Funola, your method worked for me. Although I was too lazy to dig a hole. 3 full bore wood splitting whacks with an axe budged it 1/4 inch. I had to keep setting up the knuckle after every whack (just like firewood) Then I finished it off with a 4 pound hammer. 10-20 more whacks and the BJ dropped.
I would like to thank you for pioneering this method. In the past I have been unable to rebuild front ends without paying a shop for their time. Last time I brought 2 knuckles with old sloppy joints in them and asked them to pop out the old ones and press in my new Ball joints. They charged 90 bucks each! I asked why so much and the guy said "You got the Mercedes rate". BS

I am glad to keep the labor at home.

Fattyman · #65 03-03-2013, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

I used your Redneck removal, and it works pefect. I buried them about the depth you have yours, and had a 1/4" steel plate about 4x4" to drive against in the hole. one took 7 whacks and the other BJ 10 whacks with my Splitting mall. I used a 27mm, the flat against the BJ and a 11/16" inverted to pound of, both impact sockets.

I lucked out my Indy loaned me his MB BJ press. works like a charm. The Lemfoerders slid right in.

__________________

Charlie

Would he let ME use it?

funola · #66 03-03-2013, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

....................................

Don`t know if you posted in the beginning, but will need a Post Hole Digger and a tamping bar. I use an old Tortion Bar for a Tamper.
I don`t have the MB part# off hand.

Charlie

Hey Charlie,

The pipe in the left of the pic was my post hole digger and tamper. I didn't have a post hole digger but the pipe IMO works just as well if not better than a post hole digger. The pipe packs up with dirt (as a digger) and I used a screw driver to clear it out. Do that a few times and the hole is dug. For a tamper I just left the dirt in the pipe.

funola · #67 03-03-2013, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ytmtnman

Funola, your method worked for me. Although I was too lazy to dig a hole. 3 full bore wood splitting whacks with an axe budged it 1/4 inch. I had to keep setting up the knuckle after every whack (just like firewood) Then I finished it off with a 4 pound hammer. 10-20 more whacks and the BJ dropped.
I would like to thank you for pioneering this method. In the past I have been unable to rebuild front ends without paying a shop for their time. Last time I brought 2 knuckles with old sloppy joints in them and asked them to pop out the old ones and press in my new Ball joints. They charged 90 bucks each! I asked why so much and the guy said "You got the Mercedes rate". BS

I am glad to keep the labor at home.

ytmtnman, I tried propping the knuckle up free standing like you a few years ago and couldn't get the BJ to budge. Maybe that BJ was much more rusted in than yours. I think as the knuckle bounces when you strike it, not all the energy is transmitted to the BJ. Having it buried in dirt not only allow you to get a straight shot with more energy transmitted, it also does not fall over. Digging a 4" diameter hole 8" deep in dirt is not hard and should take less than 3 minutes with a 3" diameter pipe. You probably spent more than 3 minutes having to prop the knuckle up each time after it falls over.

ytmtnman · #68 03-04-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

ytmtnman, I tried propping the knuckle up free standing like you a few years ago and couldn't get the BJ to budge. Maybe that BJ was much more rusted in than yours. I think as the knuckle bounces when you strike it, not all the energy is transmitted to the BJ. Having it buried in dirt not only allow you to get a straight shot with more energy transmitted, it also does not fall over. Digging a 4" diameter hole 8" deep in dirt is not hard and should take less than 3 minutes with a 3" diameter pipe. You probably spent more than 3 minutes having to prop the knuckle up each time after it falls over.

Alas, I have not a pipe to dig with. I only had a shovel. And being on cape cod (a sandbar) I could drive a 4 foot pipe all the way into the ground .. (I have had jacks sink on me in the past) and reckon a hole of shovel proportion would not have back filled well. Perhaps I used the "salty dog" method.

Stevo · #69 03-04-2013, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Hey Charlie, you're the first to try my hair brained (as others would call it) idea!

You're a brave dude.

Glad to hear it worked for you. I had so much fun with it I can't wait to do another one.

I tried your method a couple weeks ago, worked like a charm, thanks for the idea.

charmalu · #70 03-04-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fattyman

Would he let ME use it?

Wouldn`t that be nice? I was shocked when he loaned it to me, actually he has two of them and gave me both to use. one was bent up on the end the screw pushes against, not sure of the brand, but had been used a lot. the other one looked like the SIR Tool I posted above and worked great, pushed the BJ right in. next time Iam down there I might ask him if he wants to sell the bend one and I`ll have it straightened and beefed up on the end with a piece welded in. as little as I would use it should be ok.

The Sir tool I have seen for as little as $249 up to $335+
The Baum tool is pricy, here on Pelican sells for $499.

but is beefier looking.

If you have a Hyd Press this one will work good, and on e-bay listed for $95 + ship.

Mercedes Benz W213 W126 W220 Ball Joint Installer Tool | eBay

There is a thread BODYART27 did and he uses this one, and I know one member that has it and likes it.

Charlie

funola · #71 03-04-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ytmtnman

Alas, I have not a pipe to dig with. I only had a shovel. And being on cape cod (a sandbar) I could drive a 4 foot pipe all the way into the ground .. (I have had jacks sink on me in the past) and reckon a hole of shovel proportion would not have back filled well. Perhaps I used the "salty dog" method.

My method needs a 4" square supporting plate buried in the dirt. Sand shouldn't be a problem, just dig a deeper hole and it should have enough support so the knuckle does not lean over. Bury that brake rotor as a plate. Put a marker on the sand so you can find it next time you need to use it.

funola · #72 03-04-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

I tried your method a couple weeks ago, worked like a charm, thanks for the idea.

Thanks for the report! I have some new ideas for an improvement. Will try it out first before posting. It's be a while though.

charmalu · #73 03-04-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Hey Charlie,

The pipe in the left of the pic was my post hole digger and tamper. I didn't have a post hole digger but the pipe IMO works just as well if not better than a post hole digger. The pipe packs up with dirt (as a digger) and I used a screw driver to clear it out. Do that a few times and the hole is dug. For a tamper I just left the dirt in the pipe.

Never thought of using a pipe to dig a hole, cleaver. I live on 15 acres and once in a while have to replace some fence. digging a hole 2 1/2 plus feet for a 4 x 4 or 4 x 6 would take a while with the pipe. I have a couple Diggers, more shovels than I can wear out in a life time, several Tampers, and I would have to buy a piece of pipe.

Charlie

Stevo · #74 03-04-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Thanks for the report! I have some new ideas for an improvement. Will try it out first before posting. It's be a while though.

I used my post hole digger in sandy soil (grows great potatoes) with a chunk of steel plate at the bottom of the hole. The bj came out after a few wackes. I have the HF tool model 04065, and made the 7/8s adapter invented by Rollguy, His adapter fits the Lemforder bj perfect.
what in the world is going on with that no RPM SD hes working on? you gota admire his tenacity, Ida pushed it over the nearest cliff by now.

ROLLGUY · #75 03-04-2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

I used my post hole digger in sandy soil (grows great potatoes) with a chunk of steel plate at the bottom of the hole. The bj came out after a few wackes. I have the HF tool model 04065, and made the 7/8s adapter invented by Rollguy, His adapter fits the Lemforder bj perfect.
what in the world is going on with that no RPM SD hes working on? you gota admire his tenacity, Ida pushed it over the nearest cliff by now.

Thank you. Here is the thread:
Ball joint replacement using HF kit and home made adapter