top balljoint - can I split it? if only....

[jdreamer]

Replacing both front top ball joints. Done one side ok (had to grind off the hex bolts) but the other is proving to be a pig. Hex bolts undid fine, big nut on balljoint undid fine, but I cannot get the balljoint to pop out of the arm. Balljoint splitter (fork type) worked fine on the other side, but not on this. I've tried hitting it in all directions with a FBH but no luck. Also tried hitting the arm itself in the hope of "schocking" it out, but nope. I'm worried I'm going to knacker the lower one if I keep hitting it too hard. Any suggestions? Also got a scissors type splitter, but not big enough for this one.

Any help much appreciated.

cheers, J

[VWCamperfan]

If you have tools, heat it till it's flippin' hot then try to shock it free. Usually works.

[jdreamer]

thanks Mark, but I don't have any way to heat it up. I can't believe it hasn't popped yet, as I've been hitting the hell out of it. The best option would be a bigger scissor type splitter, but I'm not paying £100 got an HGV version...

[dave friday]

put the allen head bolts back in,put the nut on the ball joint [ loosley ] jack the van up under the front cross member [use axel stands] so that the whole hub assy hangs loose, then hit the arm with a fbh 4 or 5 times in quick succsession [if you can get the splitter on as well,safely use it].
good luck.

[gsmoke]

My local motor factors orderered me a bigger sissor splitter for about £15.
It flew off with this.

[jdreamer]

ta for the responses guys. After giving up on it last night, went at it again this morning and hit the cr*p out of it - success!! New balljoint now installed, ready for MOT.....

cheers, J

[jdreamer]

ta for the responses guys. After giving up on it last night, went at it again this morning and hit the cr*p out of it - success!! New balljoint now installed, ready for MOT.....

cheers, J

And the nice MOT man, he say "yes"!! No advisory or nuffink, so

Cheers, J

[Ian Hulley]

Good man, just had all 4 of our ball joints done while the wishbone bushes were being done ... the local garage is very good and ridiculously 'reasonable' so I let him crack on with our's

Ian.