strut balljoint

[skyper]

guys how hard is the front strut balljoint to crack,is there any tricks other then belting it to death

[Zuicider]

press :P have fun getting it in too, easier to get sumone else to do it

[wildss]

get yourself one of these

[vn calais manual]

heat.. though not many people have accsess to it. persistance is the key, or in other words, a bigger hammer . you will get it off.

[georgeonboost]

heat.. though not many people have accsess to it. persistance is the key, or in other words, a bigger hammer . you will get it off.

yep....small sledge works a treat.

[Morton]

Here's a trick that always works for me - both tie-rod ends and ball joints. Don't hit it from underneath or on top. Smack it from side to side and back to front, with the occasional smash in the right direction - it'll come out more quickly than you think

[padrickz88]

Mine was a complete bitch, no matter what i did it wouldn't come off..... Then when the car was on stands, i jacked the strut up from under the balljoint area the more you jack it up the more space there is between the control arm(is that what its called?) and the strut... now stick something big, thick and solid in between then let down the jack...

because it usually only has a small space between it, and your making it keep a certain amount it will eventually pop out... hard to explain but just watch the clip below (i know its not a commo but same applies)
YouTube - Honda painless ball joint removal

[ScoHar]

Here's a trick that always works for me - both tie-rod ends and ball joints. Don't hit it from underneath or on top. Smack it from side to side and back to front, with the occasional smash in the right direction - it'll come out more quickly than you think

I agree with this, spent hours trying to hit from top and bottom, one decent smack on the side (theres like a little ledge kink bit hanging out) and wammo done, not to mention the hours I had spent hitting the LH side was stupid as it was cracked but it didn't fall down so I kept hitting it LOL turned out I had to compress the shock/spring to get it right.

[VT-565]

get yourself one of these

Please use a ball joint remover. Will save you alot of pain and broken parts.
They are not expensive, SuperCheap have them.

[ScoHar]

Please use a ball joint remover. Will save you alot of pain and broken parts.
They are not expensive, SuperCheap have them.

Ball joint remover is the best way to do it, but when I didn't think of that until my brakes wheels etc were all off.

[VN_Luke]

Here's a trick that always works for me - both tie-rod ends and ball joints. Don't hit it from underneath or on top. Smack it from side to side and back to front, with the occasional smash in the right direction - it'll come out more quickly than you think

100% correct

big hammer, lots of force and smack it on the side of the part!

if that fails, apply heaps of heat (butane torch or something - say goodbye to your balljoint rubber) and smack again!

[skyper]

thanks very much guys

[skyper]

well,just fitted my new off ebay ultama heavy duty short travel shocks,with a set off super lows in the front and left my original FE2 in the rear,yep one crack with a large ball pain(using the ball end) and off it came ,the tie rod was harder,i carn't beleive i put up with the air bus 4 that long ,it rides as good as my SV6 ,thanks 4 all your advice guys and gals ps the air bus is a 5 speed s pack with what was called a formula kit (full from front to back) from the factory we have had it 4 years and is in excellent condition

[Commyfan]

Put it in a press

[Nevyn]

I want to change the struts in me VN but don't want to have to get new ball joints (their only 12 mths old), but I know if I use a ball joint separator the rubber boot will split...and I couldn't be bothered doing the hit n miss with the hammer on the side....is there any other way or tool that can be used?

[padrickz88]

I want to change the struts in me VN but don't want to have to get new ball joints (their only 12 mths old), but I know if I use a ball joint separator the rubber boot will split...and I couldn't be bothered doing the hit n miss with the hammer on the side....is there any other way or tool that can be used?

do what i said...... works fantastic..... usually you dont even need to kick it, usually pops out by itself

[Nevyn]

I'll see.............damn rules