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#1
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Ball Joint Boot replacement tricks needed
I am replacing the ball joint boots on the front lower joints. I am having trouble getting the lower control arm free of the ball joint. The area is too small to use the typical ball joint tool and I dont want to destroy the joint so I dont want to hammer on it in such a way as to damage it. There is little to pry against. I am looking for some ideas as to how to proceed.
Thanks.
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I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave 78 Corvette Stingray - 3k 82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k 86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k 87 420sel - 240k 89 560sl - 78k 91 420sel - 205k 91 560sel - 85k 94 GMC Suburban - 90k 97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k 00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k Last edited by dpetryk; 08-02-2006 at 12:22 PM. |
#2
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A pickle fork will damage the boot, but not the ball joint. So if you're replacing the boots anyway, have at it with a pickle fork.
BTW, where did you get just the boots? jp
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Jeff Pierce Current Vehicles: '92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver) '93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk) '99 Kawasaki Concours Gravely 8120 Previous Vehicles: '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon '53 Willys-Overland Pickup '85 Honda 750F Interceptor '93 Nissan Quest '89 Toyota Camry Wagon '89 Dodge Raider '81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport '88 Toyota Celica '95 Toyota Tacoma '74 Honda CB 550F |
#3
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The local Benz dealer - PN 116 586 04 33
I managed to get the job done. I disconnected the top ball joint then was able to angle the spindle outward enough to install the standard screw type ball joint press. They came out no problem.
__________________
I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave 78 Corvette Stingray - 3k 82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k 86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k 87 420sel - 240k 89 560sl - 78k 91 420sel - 205k 91 560sel - 85k 94 GMC Suburban - 90k 97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k 00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k |
#4
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Reassembly?
So how did you get them pressed back in? Did the same press work for reinstallation? Some here have suggested that OEM press rented from AutoZone. Did you use this one?
Lou |
#5
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I never removed the ball joint. I just replaced the rubber cover. Joint was good, rubber cover was bad.
__________________
I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave 78 Corvette Stingray - 3k 82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k 86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k 87 420sel - 240k 89 560sl - 78k 91 420sel - 205k 91 560sel - 85k 94 GMC Suburban - 90k 97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k 00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k |
#6
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Ruuber boot
where do you buy just the boot?
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa |
#7
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The dealer
__________________
I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave 78 Corvette Stingray - 3k 82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k 86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k 87 420sel - 240k 89 560sl - 78k 91 420sel - 205k 91 560sel - 85k 94 GMC Suburban - 90k 97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k 00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k |
#8
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old ball joint
ok, am in the middle of removing the rt lower ball joint. all bolts and nuts are off, even that of the upper bj. but am having problem sliding the bj bolt off the lower control arm. I thought maybe if I find a way to get the spindle off the upper bj first then I can hammer the lower bj off the arm?
or am I doing this the hard way? Help please
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa |
#9
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If I am reading this right, you have everything unbolted, and the only thing holding on is the balljoint itself?
A big brass hammer ought to motivate it off. Might want to put the nut back on the upper balljoint a few turns...so that when the lower gives, it won't go tumbling around everywhere...like on your foot or in your face.
__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein 09 Jetta TDI 1985 300D |
#10
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Good idea
Quote:
Good idea. Don't have a brass hammer but have all sorts of steel hammers. It may be obvious but what do I hammer? the top of the bj hitting it downwards? Heres anothe pic.
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa |
#11
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I had to disconnect the upper ball joint and then I could swing the spindle out of the way of the ball joint bolt. It will also give you clear access to hammer the joint free. I used a ball joint removal tool and it still was a challenge to get the joint free. Getting the joint out of the spindle is even more fun.
__________________
I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave 78 Corvette Stingray - 3k 82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k 86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k 87 420sel - 240k 89 560sl - 78k 91 420sel - 205k 91 560sel - 85k 94 GMC Suburban - 90k 97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k 00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k |
#12
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If you are going to replace the balljoint, might as well hit it, and get out some frustration. I might be tempted to put a small rag over it, to prevent flying particles or sparks, if you're going to use a steel hammer.
__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein 09 Jetta TDI 1985 300D |
#13
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Whats making it stick?
What is making the ball joint stick to the spindle anyway? Is it just rust? hope the new ball joint wont be hard to put in there.
I tried again, hammering and all. I even tried prying with my 5 ft long crow bar. Still not budging. Part of it I think is that the upper bj also seems to be stuck up there. So its not helping with the removal of the lower bj. Yes the next challenge will be the removal of the bj from the spindle..... but one thing at a time. Any more ideas to make this go easier would be great. Thansk again.
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa |
#14
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Heat/Cold comes to mind. Would be nice if we all had a container of liquid nitrogen, wouldn't it?
I hate to have to get out a torch and put heat on something, as I don't want it to loose its temper. You could try a big ole block of ice...or maybe canned air (turn it upside down, it gets quite cold). I doubt that penetrating fluid would penetrate much....that's a tight fit. To remove the joint, put the spindle in a vice, and beat on it with a big ole hammer. Or, if you have a pneumatic hammer, use it. This is another time when you might want to heat the joint itself up a little. If you heat, beware of trapped moisture wanting to pop out with great speed.
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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein 09 Jetta TDI 1985 300D |
#15
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Yup
Thats actuallywhat I'm doing now. Got the torch out. Heating the bj bolt and the control arm area. This should break any rust in there. Still not budging but got to be patient I guess. Wish me luck.
__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth... 2007 Honda Accord EX 2007 Honda Accord SE V6 96 C220 97 Explorer - Found Another Home 2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home 85 300D - Found Another Home 84 300D - Found Another Home 80 300TD - Found Another Home Previous cars: 96 Caravan 87 Camry 84 Cressida 82 Vanagon 80 Fiesta 78 Nova Ford Cortina Opel Kadet 68 Kombi Contessa |
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