I was all prepared for the battle of my MB life. The removal of the ball joints. Well, each one only took a single smack with a 15 oz hammer and they moved. 2 wacks and it was almost out.

Anything to be concerned about?

Thank's
Don

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

Your karma can only go downhill from there.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Hey, Don,

Buy some lottery tickets today

__________________
The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Out is no problem, getting the new ones in is!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Unbelievable! Am I the only poor bastard that had to use a torch?!!

"In" was a piece of cake for me - 60 seconds per, with the tool from Pep Boys.

__________________
1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

I almost broke a 12 ton H press Doing my SD and SE..........

William Rogers.........

You'd better hide under the bed the rest of the weekend

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

To almost break a press are you sure you were pushing them out the right way? The flat surface of the joint is the what gets smacked or pressure applied. Not trying to insult anyone, but mine came out so easy its hard to image needing that kind of force.

Don

__________________
1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

My brother and I did one on his SDL -- out was easy, a 5 lb sledge did the trick in the old vise.

Going back in, without power tools, we bent the Harbor Freight tool. Ball joint is all the way down, though!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Maybe the smack of a sledge hammer does a better job of loosening up the corrosion between the ball joint and its seat than the steady pressure of a press.

The press probably bent, bent, bent and then WHANG! it popped loose.

Ball joints are best tested by jacking up the wheel, right? Not the frame? So you keep the spring normally compressed?

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

No, jack the frame and leave the wheel hanging free, the apply upward force on the bottom of the wheel to check for play.

Otherwise the weight of the car is sitting on the balljoint.

The other clue is groaning on turns. Usually the joint is good until the boot fails and the grease either leaves or gets dirty or wet. Wear then occurs rapidly, or the joint corrodes, leading to looseness or lack of clearance, depending.

So long as the boot is intact, some play is acceptable. My Volvo drove pretty good with about 8 mm play in the ball joints! Chuckled going over rough roads, though...

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I have put one new ball joint in. The base now comes through the mounting hole by more than 1/16". The one I pulled was not even flush.

I think someone didn't seat the last ball joints in all the way which may explain my good fortune in removing them.

Don

__________________
1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

When I had the full 12 tons of force on it I rapped it with a hammer lightly, it came out like a rocket not a good idea.

The new ones pressed in with no problem. I used a discared upper control arm that fit perfectly over old ball joint in the removeal process see photo............

William Rogers..........

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Well thats done...Sunday the LCA bushings

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__________________
1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

The picture above with the split firewood in the background made me think of the last time I needed some brute force---and did not have a shop press or the "right tool"....

...I used my hydraulic wood splitter! I rigged up a "cover" for the splitting wedge, worked the control lever *very* gingerly, and kept my body stratigically hidden from anything that might have come shooting out of there in a hurry.

You gotta' do what you gotta' do.

__________________
1977 Mercedes 240D. 4-speed transmission. Windows, A/C, and sunroof: all manual. Medium Red. 204K miles.
1988 Subaru GL wagon. Dual range 5-speed 4X4. Daily driver w/ twin parts car.
1994 Subaru Loyale wagon. 5-speed 4x4
1966 International 3/4 ton 4X4 truck. Ooh yeah!
1952 Ferguson TO-35 farm tractor.
1984 Snapper rear engine riding mower. Just like Forest Gump.
1988 Nimble 20 sail boat
--Older stuff is built better--