Serious ball joint help needed - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

CharlieChitlins · #1 03-09-2008, 04:23 PM

So...a ball joint separated, and the car is in a parking lot about 5 miles from home. It's nosed into a parking space and I don't see how I could move it without risking major damage.
I guess I'll do the job right there.
A few questions:
1-I don't have a ball joint remover/installer, but it doesn't seem like that big a deal to remove the control arm and bring it home where I have a shop press. Am I right?
2-This way I can also leave the strut and tie rod on, right?
3-Can I use your basic spring compressor where you put one on each side of the spring and tighten?
Any help would be greatly appreciated; I kind of need to get this done quickly and efficiently and get my car home.

stevebfl · #2 03-09-2008, 04:46 PM

When I was 19 I replaced the differential in my 56 Chevy behind a hotel on Miami beach 25 miles from home.

If I get a flat (I guess that is hard to do with run flats) now, I'm calling AAA. The differences between now and 40 years ago are that I can afford it and I'm a whole lot smarter than I was back then. Having no knowledge of how poor you are, take my word for it, you shouldn't be doing this in the parking lot.

You also shouldn't be doing it without a proper spring compressor. The kind that grab on the outside are not proper and aren't close to being safe and likely won't work anyway as you won't be able to grab 180 degrees apart enough coils.

BTW: changing that differential was an easier job than doing a balljoint in a parking lot with improper tools.

CharlieChitlins · #3 03-09-2008, 05:01 PM

Doing it in the parking lot is about the same as doing it in my driveway, except for the fact that I might have to spend 20 minutes going home if I forget a tool.
The main factor is, though, I just don't know how this thing could be moved to tow it.
There's no way to get in front of it to hook it up, and I can't imagine rolling it with the control arm resting inside the wheel.
Is there such a thing as a tow truck with a boom that could come in perpendicular from the side and still get the front up?
What would happen with the hanging wheel and control arm?
I think the spring could come out, too.
Yikes!
This sucks!!

stevebfl · #4 03-09-2008, 05:08 PM

The tow truck will use dollies to move the vehicle to a point where he can attach better. He may have to use a rollback (flatbed). Those tow giuys are pretty cunning about such things. They have seen it all.

If you are going to do it there or at home, look to rent the proper compressor. If you look at the archives you can find some places online that sell the joint and rent the klann compressor, which grabs the spring from inside using plates that slide in the coils.