How do I get this damn ball joint out?

[Ceri]

i've used a bottle jack as a press in the past.

No offence like, but to be honest, you shouldn't have tried this yourself with no manual or experience.

These units have to be pressed in place with the wishbone OFF the car. your chances of getting the new balljoint in without damage or misalignment are very slim.

 

[Gasman]

Most motor factors will not have a clue anyway when it comes to tools.
BTW there really isn't what one could call a universal balljoint anyway.
The type of kit to allow insitu balljoint/bush installation are mainly vehicle specific and v.expensive.

I would suggest purchasing a 1/2 inch breaker bar and decent socket to fit your rusty chassis bolts and remove the lower arm.
Spray with WD40 overnight and use NO HEAT as you will melt the bushes.

Your new bar will be much cheaper and have a whole lot of uses later where as a balljoint press will cost more than the car is worth!!!!

Keep us posted though & mind your knuckles.

 

[Ceri]

Most motor factors will not have a clue anyway when it comes to tools.
BTW there really isn't what one could call a universal balljoint anyway.
The type of kit to allow insitu balljoint/bush installation are mainly vehicle specific and v.expensive.

I would suggest purchasing a 1/2 inch breaker bar and decent socket to fit your rusty chassis bolts and remove the lower arm.
Spray with WD40 overnight and use NO HEAT as you will melt the bushes.

Your new bar will be much cheaper and have a whole lot of uses later where as a balljoint press will cost more than the car is worth!!!!

Keep us posted though & mind your knuckles.

I picked up a very nice 600mm "power bar" with a lifetime guarantee last week for 15 quid. its going to help me out no end!

 

[Robotstar5]

I picked up a very nice 600mm "power bar" with a lifetime guarantee last week for 15 quid. its going to help me out no end!

Have you checked the "small print" a lot of breaker bars have lifetime guarantee except for the joint!

 

[Ceri]

Have you checked the "small print" a lot of breaker bars have lifetime guarantee except for the joint!

i can assure you that i didn't come up the river on a bike..

My last power bar was a real cheapy, didn't have a replaceable head or a guarantee and broke. This one does have a replaceable head and the handle has a lifetime guarantee. heads are £4.

trade prices, of course.

 

[future_jack]

I think I will go the breaker bar route now. I'll put some wd-40 on it today and have another look next weekend. I'll get the bar during the week.

Ball joint presses do seem to be vehicle specific. If there was a universal one that would be great but I don't want to buy one if not.

 

[Ceri]

I think I will go the breaker bar route now. I'll put some wd-40 on it today and have another look next weekend. I'll get the bar during the week.

Ball joint presses do seem to be vehicle specific. If there was a universal one that would be great but I don't want to buy one if not.

if you can get it off you then also have the option of going to an engineering workshop and having it pressed in for you.

good luck.

 

[future_jack]

if you can get it off you then also have the option of going to an engineering workshop and having it pressed in for you.

good luck.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I wonder how much the labour will be?

 

[Ceri]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I wonder how much the labour will be?

no idea.

I used to press bearings etc in for a fiver.

but that's me.

 

[Gasman]

I would try a car garage. A local independent mechanic would probably do it for a Guinness

 

[Ceri]

I would try a car garage. A local independent mechanic would probably do it for a Guinness

you're lucky.. round here they would mostly tell you to *%@# off!

 

[Gasman]

Unlikley to happen here as over the years I have got most of them out of the sh1t at some point!!

 

[Ceri]

They wouldn't say it to me round here.. but if i was just some random person they'd be quick enough to tell me where to go!! They want the money for doing the whole job themselves not too interested in helping anyone out. Garages in general are not doing too well here at the moment as most have lost their service and prep contracts with independent car sales.. sad.

 

[Gasman]

More doom & gloom aye.....Some of the less fortunate or frankly greedy dealerships have now closed here. IMHO They had it too good for too long, with bosses & share holders netting a fortune and now making the folk on the ground redundant.

The smaller trusted independent places with good old fashioned service & practical repair knowledge will win out in the end. Plus most of them hate working for traders anyway because they or so called warranty companies won't pay for a proper job!!

Then you have certain folk trying to do their own repairs instead hmmmm