Lower ball joint!

[SweetWagon]

Well in the process of puttin new front springs in. Drivers side went well, only gave the lower ball joint a few light taps and it fell out got it all in and then it started to tackle the passenger side but the lower ball joint wont budge!!

I think i have run out of bigger hammers :P i quickly went down to Repco and got a splitter but its for a tie rod and wont work, Ended up stuffing the rubber so looks like im up for a new ball joint. BUT i have to get it off first!! ATM one side is lowered but not the other lol.

I sprayed it with WD40 overnight so if a hammer doesnt work now what can I do?? nobody seems to have the correct ball joint splitter around here.

any tips?

Cheers.

[friedchicken]

i found it was much easier to just drop the wishbone out, but thats not much use to you now... you dont even need to do that if your tricky.

how are you hitting the ball joint? iirc you bash the strut itself, from the sides.

[SweetWagon]

Anyone for ideas? i been at it again for a few hours today, but i need it get the damned thing off tomorrow or im stuffed, rubber seal is stuffed now so i need to change it either way, dont wanna pay for a mobile mechanic whos going to have the same problem!... I bought a big ball joint splitter, and a new ball joint today but my arm got sore from swinging the hammer, i even got someone to stand on a long bar prying on the control arm but the farking thing will not budge!!!

A mate suggested heat it up with an oxy and it should loosen up?

Also does the new ball joint need to be pressed in? I hope not.

cheers

[SweetWagon]

i found it was much easier to just drop the wishbone out, but thats not much use to you now... you dont even need to do that if your tricky.

how are you hitting the ball joint? iirc you bash the strut itself, from the sides.

I have hit it from everywhere. trust me, this thing wont budge, not even a big ball joint splitter will pop it.

[immortality]

get a long pipe or bar of steel, wedge it on top ofthe lower control arm and under the short arm for the tie rod and lever up, (i used a jack to load it up) then a good sharp hit with a decent hammer should budge it. at the local mag&turbo outlet they use an old 6ft steel fence post pipe

[SweetWagon]

get a long pipe or bar of steel, wedge it on top ofthe lower control arm and under the short arm for the tie rod and lever up, (i used a jack to load it up) then a good sharp hit with a decent hammer should budge it. at the local mag&turbo outlet they use an old 6ft steel fence post pipe

yes i have a big 5 foot pole that i was using. I will try your idea with the jack tomorrow. Never thought it was be such a pain, was cheering when the driver side came out after a few light taps...

so with the new ball joint, does that need to be pressed in?

[stockyvs]

You will DEFINITELY need a decent hydraulic press to get the new balljoint in. I found out the hard way the other weekend LOL. I cut the original balljoint out of the arm with a hacksaw and some patience but you definitely need some sort of press to get the new one in.

[vncruzr]

mate i had similar problem ended up supporting the lower cntrl arm with a jack and used a cold steel hole punch, big mutha, a few decent wacks and it dropped out. if memory is right you will actually find on the top of the joint where the nut goes on a recessed dip where the punch can actually sit. good luck

[savage1987]

I had this problem too mate just ended up getting it done professionally. Good luck though!

[SweetWagon]

You will DEFINITELY need a decent hydraulic press to get the new balljoint in. I found out the hard way the other weekend LOL. I cut the original balljoint out of the arm with a hacksaw and some patience but you definitely need some sort of press to get the new one in.

damn. well assumuming i get it off tomorrow, there should be a few places around with a press. If i cant get the ball joint out, can i just remove the lower control arm and radius rod to take out the entire strut/lower control arm?? and let a workshop sort out the balljoint.

mate i had similar problem ended up supporting the lower cntrl arm with a jack and used a cold steel hole punch, big mutha, a few decent wacks and it dropped out. if memory is right you will actually find on the top of the joint where the nut goes on a recessed dip where the punch can actually sit. good luck

Thanks i have used a centrepunch on the centre of the bolt at the top, will try that again tomorrow as now i dont care if i wreck the thread on it because i have a new balljoint.

So tomorrow will be fun. gotta get the barst*** joint off, otherwise i will remove the whole lower control arm and get a workshop to remove and press in new balljoint.

[SweetWagon]

DONE! This morning i removed the lower control arm and radius rod. Took it down the road to a workshop who separated the strut from the arm and pressed the new balljoint in for me. Then bolted everything back in, only thing is the thread on the swaybar link is stuffed and i need a new one, nut is on but not tight.

I like the new ride-height, scrapes on my driveway now, also can only just get trolley jack under it. I will take some happy snaps after i do the back and replace passenger-side swaybar link.

Off to work now.

Cheers.

EDIT: might get a heavy duty swaybar link kit on ebay, only $35 bux :P

[savage1987]

I can't get my jack under the front of my VN any more with the bodykit lol
Have to drive it up onto blocks THEN jack it up.

[azkwazere]

what i generally do is jack the strut up by the hub and then smack the control arm down... 60% of the time it works everytime...

aZk.