Ball Joint removal questions?

Backyard_Brumby · Post by **Backyard_Brumby** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:14 pm

Hi guys

Just trying to remove the ball joints out of the brumby so that I can both replace them as well as free the control arm so I can change the control arm bushings.

So far had no luck freeing it up....as you can see in the pick below I have removed all bolts etc but don't know how to remove it from here.

your help is really appreciated

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/82 ... 35001.jpg/

taza · Post by **taza** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:34 pm

Disconnect the strut bolts so that the ball joint can come out straight, not on an angle otherwise it won't come out. (I've done that before

)

Also a ball joint remover helps, you can get them for about 15-20bucks.

Good Luck!

littlewhiteute · Post by **littlewhiteute** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:42 pm

James,

The lower ball joint is held with a pinch bolt in the bottom of the strut leg.

Drive a taper (old flat blade screwdriver) in the groove, just enough to spread it a little and the joint will come out.

Heaps easier than tapered ball joints.

Backyard_Brumby · Post by **Backyard_Brumby** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:49 am

Thanks for the help guys, did end up getting them out...ending up putting a jack under and it obviously just moved them enough that when I dropped it back down and gave the control arm a hit they popped straight out...now just need to install the new ones...on initial look they seemed very marginally too big...as in they didn't slot straight back in. I did all this just to install new control arm bushings and now they look like they are too big as well.....wow I love ordering parts

Post by **Alex** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:53 am

balljoint remover tool is great

works like a dream, on later model cars they seem to sit ALOT tighter in the control arm.

alex

Backyard_Brumby · Post by **Backyard_Brumby** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:13 am

Not that I would assume anyone else would make this stupid mistake but I thought I would throw it out there as a bit of an oops story.

After removing the ball joints from the hub I was left with the control arm and the need to remove both the bushing and the ball joint. didn't quite have anything right to press out the ball joint and of course had no luck just banging on it. I was in quite a rush to get the bushes out. I had a washing machine tub (great for camp fires

) set up in the backyard and was just going to start the fire and chuck the whole arm in to burn out the bushing.....however i put the arm in completely overlooking the fact that the ball joint was still in there (obviously grease packed into a small metal capsule with extreme heat is not the best combo). It went fine for about ten minutes until one of them popped.....It was probably one of the loudest things I have ever heard in my life (considering I work around jet aircraft everyday is a pretty decent effort)....basically the metal casing shot off in shrapnel form...copped a couple bits to the arm but luckily got off very easily. I realise I am going to cop a lot of you are an idiot remarks but figured it was a easy oversight while trying to work quickly late in the afternoon

On the plus side , bushing burnt out....ball joint popped out easily and control arm was cleaned up nicely for a lick of paint

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:44 am

Don't worry -plenty of people have done stupid things that in hindsight shouldn't have been done.

Not me though

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:46 pm

not yet any right to claim an entry in The Darwin Awards, not even close. Bloody hell, wouldna thought that would happen !!

We sadly lost an aquaintance in the last few weeks, who as a young apprentice was attempting to remove a bearing off an axle on a ten ton press, added oxy and effin BANG, shrappers got him and frq'd a nerve or two in his shoulder and essentially lost most use of his arm as a result. Alcohol was a good pain killer, led to more problems over the years and ....well, was found in his car in his shed

RIP Tim-Laden, you were WAY more than a work place injury statistic