Lower Ball Joint Removal

[The Hairy Camper]

I've taken the control arms off the front of my van as all of the ball joints (and brakes) were knackered.

Got most parts off fine, but the lower Ball Joint is being an absolute nightmare. I spent half a day with a sledge hammer, breaker bar, blow torch, plus gas and it moved slightly, but won't come out and ended up looking like this:



Next day I tried to use my hand held press, no joy, so I decided to try the sledge hammer for a short while again, then I got my angle grinder out and after a short go with that decided it was wise to walk away before I damaged something.

Anyway, I decided to get a 6 ton press as I've done a few ball joints now, and I thought it would come in handy. I only went and bent the arm on the press!

Anyone have any advice?

Cheers.

[Stesaw]

Its binding because its coming out at an angle you need to straighten it out, try tapping it back in a bit til its level then press it out.. maybe soak it in some ATF or plusgas etc before trying it.

[The Hairy Camper]

Thanks Stesaw, that's a good idea. I will give it a try tomorrow

[Aidan]

what are you using as the 3051 tool ?

have you watched sir sdventure's yt videos ?

[The Hairy Camper]

what are you using as the 3051 tool ?

have you watched sir sdventure's yt videos ?

I had a few tools in my hand press kit, but nothing fits very well. I did manage to line it up pretty straight on my press though.

I watched a few videos on YT, most I found resort to heat and a sledge hammer to get it out. I will have a look for sir adventure.

[dazzerT251900td]

Hi There.
Ive just done this job and put the steering knuckle in a vice.Then heated the steering knuckle up slowly around bottom ball joint not to much.
Then I got a socket that fitted on the bottom and hit it with a lump hammer.It moved slightly then shot out.
It was tough getting it out so I decided to have the new ones pressed in at my local garage.I hadn’t the right spaces to press it back in really myself.The garage charged me 20 quid each one to press in.But it’s done and no damage. good luck hope it goes well pal.

[Stesaw]

To get the new ones in you deffo want to press them, do not bash them in with a hammer you'll probably bugger them in the process.

[silverbullet]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... ?p=9578054

[pleasestartnow]

I had a similar issue last year and ended up just bringing the knuckle to a local mechanic and asked him to press it out. He had it done in about 10 mins after me spending about 4 hours of doing similar to you. If that's an option I would try that, think of it this way, would you pay 30 quid to not have to deal with the frustration of everything you did so far.

[The Hairy Camper]

Got the thing out today

I hammered it back in to try and line the ball joint straight again (went back in very easily), then tried hammering it out again, no joy. After a couple more tries I realised that lower surface had a bit of a lip from all the hammering. I believe this was acting as another snap ring. So I got the angle grinder with a flap disc and carefully ground down the lip as much as possible.

5 or 6 more hits with the sledge hammer and the thing popped out easily.



I rigged up the press and new ball joint like this:


Dispite it looking straight (to me) the new ball joint went in on a slight angle, so I couldn't get it flush today. I will get that sorted another day though.

Bonus pictures:




The new press managed to squeeze this bush out in less than a minute, so not a waste after all I guess