Ball Joint Removal

[peteyg]

How does the bottom ball joint separate from the supension arm? The top one is obviously bolted onto the upper wishbone. Is the bottom one fixed or inmy case just coroded?

Pete

[jonroberts]

Pete,

The bottom ball joint is an interference fit into the lower arm. In my case, a little heat to the arm and a few sharp blows with a hammer on the top of the threaded joint separated the two. I was replacing, so not worried about damaging the threads. 5 minute job with the lower link on the bench. It could be done still on the car of course.

Its nowhere near as difficult as removing the bushes from the top wishbone or rear lower-links if you have attempted them.

Rgds,

Jon.

[peteyg]

Thanks Jon!

I repalced the rear lower link bushes a while back and they were horrific. Took about 2 hours to get on side done and took the other down to the local garage to use their press - so much easier!!

I'm replacing the upper wishbones and they come ready-bushed. The ball joints I'll try and remove whilst on the car as I'm not removing the spring & damper.

Pete

Pete,

The bottom ball joint is an interference fit into the lower arm. In my case, a little heat to the arm and a few sharp blows with a hammer on the top of the threaded joint separated the two. I was replacing, so not worried about damaging the threads. 5 minute job with the lower link on the bench. It could be done still on the car of course.

Its nowhere near as difficult as removing the bushes from the top wishbone or rear lower-links if you have attempted them.

Rgds,

Jon.

[andydclements]

Thanks Jon!

I repalced the rear lower link bushes a while back and they were horrific. Took about 2 hours to get on side done and took the other down to the local garage to use their press - so much easier!!

I'm replacing the upper wishbones and they come ready-bushed. The ball joints I'll try and remove whilst on the car as I'm not removing the spring & damper.

Pete

Personaly I'd advise take that llower link off.

If you manage to get the old ball joint out, getting the new one in is going to ge a nightmare if it is even possible. To put mine in I pressed it in using a vive and a pair of large sockets (similar to getting it out), you can hit the old one out with some luck, if the link is held seurely, but you don't want to hit the new one.

Andy

[peteyg]

Thanks for the advice Andy. Will head down that route I think!