Ball joints done! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rickg · #1 10-20-2002, 07:47 PM

Not a real fun job, but my brother and I did my lower ball joint yesterday. All of you who warned me that I have to use the right press, were right. Well, almost. My brother has a press from Matco tools, but it wouldn't even come close to what we needed. I had sent him a picture of what we needed, and he was sure we could make his work somehow. Not!
So, we got the steering knuckle out, and tried several local shops around to see if they had a press and would just put in the new ones for us. Not! Those that had a press, wouldn't do the job because I hadn't bought the parts from them!

Morons!!! And everyone else didn't have a clue what we were talking about over the phone. There is a shop in Everett that I was preety sure would do it for us, but they aren't open on the weekend.
So, my brother and I were gonna just wait till monday. Then he got the gears in his head turning, and wanted to make a gizmo that we could use with my hydralic press. and what follows is the result. not pretty, but it worked sweet!

rickg · #2 10-20-2002, 07:49 PM

and another shot

rickg · #3 10-20-2002, 07:51 PM

showing how it fits from the other side

rickg · #4 10-20-2002, 07:52 PM

the critter laying down

rickg · #5 10-20-2002, 07:54 PM

A close-up of the buisness end. This was the biggest challeng, getting it to fit into the recess in the knuckle. We just kept grinding at it with a 4" angle grinder until it fit.

rickg · #6 10-20-2002, 07:55 PM

Oops! forgot the pic with that last one

rickg · #7 10-20-2002, 08:02 PM

One of the hardest parts of the job was getting the old ones out! The repair CD says to hold the knuckle in a vise and "drive the old joint out". It should say to beat the holy crap out of the thing!

I was standing up on a step ladder and swinging a 2lb sledge hammer for about 5 minutes on each one! They don't wanna come out! (Which i guess is a good thing

)
While I had the whole mess apart, I had ordered brake pads and rotors for the front from our sponsers. I should have also ordered calipers. On both of them, the outer pistons were seeping fluid. So now I have to get those and do my brakes all over again. Live and learn

leathermang · #8 10-20-2002, 08:38 PM

Way to Go !

#9 10-20-2002, 10:08 PM

It was really kind of an interesting challenge. We have the technology (tools) and I wasn't in the mood to say quits. Besides, who wants to spend money when you don’t have to.

Lane (Rick’s brother)

engatwork · #10 10-21-2002, 06:40 AM

Rick - why don't ya'll build some and sell them. Looks like you could probably provide them for a fraction of the cost of the real things.

Ken300D · #11 10-21-2002, 07:04 AM

The other possibility is renting out the special tool you have made, or starting a business to press in new ball joints into knuckles people send you.

What size (ton) press are you using?

Ken300D

leathermang · #12 10-21-2002, 08:34 AM

Ken300d, That is exactly what I was considering doing..... and it looks like that the 'pressing OUT' may be the more valuable operation of the job... I have a Diesel tractor with spare hydraulic ports and big agricultural cylinders for power....

This service would involve Cleaning, pressing out, pressing in, mailing back... one day turnaround...

Not counting shipping.... anyone have an idea as to what would be fair pricing on this ?

rickg · #13 10-21-2002, 10:25 AM

If I EVER do one of these again(hope not!)I'm gonna figure a way to press the old ones out. It was a bugger. And I've got a heck of a large knot/bruise on the back of my left hand from the hammer missing the large drift punch I was holding! Ooouuuccchhhh!

The press is just one of those cheap-o 12 ton jobs that Harbor Freight sells. I have used the heck out of it! It also makes a reasonable spring compressor for working on McPhearson struts. I've had to re-enforce part of it right after I got it, but since then it's worked for a lot of things.

jbaj007 · #14 10-21-2002, 02:00 PM

rickg:
Heck, I'll trade BOTH my brothers for your brother Lane. Deal?

Cleverness and persistance once again overcomes a tough obstacle.

RG5384 · #15 10-21-2002, 02:36 PM

man, i can relate about the ball joints not wanting to come out. On my 300SD, i rented the tool from an autozone to remove them, and regardless how much pounding i did, they would not break free. I ended up wedging the tool in as far as it would go, then getting a ten foot breaker bar that fit over the end of the tool, and put all my weight on the very end of the breaker bar. They finally popped free after a little bit of bouncing(i can't take credit for this idea, another fine member on this forum suggested this

) When they finally popped out it sounded like a gunshot! scared me both times! I paid a shop thirty dollars for both sides to press the new ones in.
Ryan