ball joint pressing in Newcastle area

[slowcoach]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know a place in the newcastle area, preferably north shields/whitley bay that can press in lower ball joints? What a sod they are to do!

cheers!
john.

[slowcoach]

Anyone??
Going to contact the local vw commercial centre tomorrow , see if they have the press and tools for it. Mot looming fast, and this is the last hurdle !

How do people generally do this job?

[mm289]

Hi John,

they are a bit of a pig to do as access is a real problem.

I found easiest way to get old one out was to slice off the end of the old one (bottom) with a hacksaw/thin grinding disc. ball joint will then pop out and you can carefully cut a slot down the length of the remaining sleeve with a hacksaw.

Once that is done the sleeve can be gently pushed in, away from the knuckle with a drift and once this has relieved the tension it will slide out reasonably easily.

Refitting is OK if you have the right tools! You can do it on a hydraulic press which most independent garages have (look for a 4x4 specialist as they use them all the time for Land Rover bushes etc), trouble is the access is a pain so you might end up fiddling about trying to make collars that fit over the new ball joint to press it in.

The easier tool is one of these http://www.clarkebay.co.uk/ball-joint-r ... -439-p.asp or similar, which again a lot of indi's will have. Doesn't need the clearance of a hydraulic press, like a big G clamp that you whack up with a wheel gun.

Can't help re location, but at least that should tell you what to look for

HTH

MM

[slowcoach]

thanks for the great reply mm,

getting them out was relatively easy, with the knuckles off the van we could heat them up and 'let them have it' with a lump hammer, and out they popped. but as you say, getting them in is indeed another matter.

our local mechanic (who has an hydraulic press) have them now, and we're waiting with crossed fingers for a phone call. hopefully they have some collars/bits lying around that will allow access. quickfit had a press, but no suitable collars. after all the wrestling with creaky nuts and bolts, bearings and coil springs, i thought the hard bit was over :/ the mot is tomorrow morning, after the van being off the road for a year. just want to get it all back together now!!

it would be great if someone sold just the right pair of collars to allow a shop press to get the work done. not a job i want to do again! will update when its sorted out...

cheers!
john.