Ball Joint Separator - Beg or Borrow
 

Hi all,

I'm unhappy to say that my N/S front bottom wishbone ball joint has defeated me. Cue various swear words.......

I've got the bush off - the bolts were rather tight :icon_rolleyes: and the bush is totally shot.

I've got the hub joint off and that isn't good.

I've got a nice, new wishbone and a new bush just waiting to go on but......

I can't release the "centre" ball joint :icon_frown::icon_frown::icon_sad::icon_mad:.

So far I've tried a "fork" type separator (Laser 5496) and a good deal of heat and a great deal of hammering and vast quantities of Plusgas to no avail.

I've tried putting the whole weight of the car on the end of the ball joint and "pinging" (read belting) the sub frame with no effect.

I've tried levering on the end of a scaffold pole. Nothing gives - except me.

If I hit the end of the ball joint it's "ringing" so I'm figuring it's well and truly solid/seized/corroded in.

I'm thinking of one of those claw type spliters for "commercial" vehicles rated at about a dozen tonnes - might they be man enough? Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heavy-Hydra...joint+splitter

Before I shell out on getting one has anyone nearish to Tamworth got one I could borrow?

If I bust it I'll buy you a new one :icon_lol:.

Any other suggestions welcome.

Andy.

Hi, I feel your pain as I've been there a few times! pretty much done everything you've described too, only thing I can suggest ... if time is not of the essence is soak it in vinegar. Yes I know it sounds a bit weird to say the least but I was offered this advice by an old gent many years ago and believe it or not... it worked an absolute treat. (apparently the acids in vinegar creep into the rusty bond between the surfaces and literally dissolve the crud holding it together)
I left mine soaking over night and re-applied at regular intervals when convenient, went back to it next morning expecting to attack it again with a big hammer and first 'tap' it broke loose.
Might be worth a go if you've exhausted all other avenues.
Good luck with it and hope it works for you.
BTW ... have you also tried driving the fork splitter in between the join as manufacturers instructions thus putting the joint under tension and then whacking the 'side' of the joint housing '' shocking'' the taper free?

Hi, I had exactly the same issue with mine earlier this yaer, spent weeks trying to shift it then someone from here suggested putting the balljoint on to a jack to take the weight then hitting the top of the joint with a hammer. It pinged out first time with just a moderate tap on the top!! I was certainly amazed at the simplicity of the final solution!! Hope it helps!

The only way to release one like this is to get the car a foot in the air then use a 4lb sledge hammer.


Been there done it a few times!

Cheers guys,

Keep 'em coming :xmas-smiley-008:

I've tried the "joint under tension" with no joy but I'll definitely try the vinegar. Maybe I can build a blutac wall around it and fill that with vinegar? That way I can leave it to soak in/down for a few days.

Watch this space!

Andy.

Best thing i found for these things i found was an sds hammer drill set to just kango action,breaks it in seconds.😉👍

Sent from my LG-M160 using Tapatalk

Place a strong axle stand under the threaded part of the joint and jack the car up 6 inches above the axle stand. Undo the trolley jack so the car drops onto the joint quickly and the weight of the car together with the downward force is usually enough. Sometimes a second go is needed but this technique has never failed me.

I suggest a second set of axle stands slightly lower than the first one in case it slips of the first one.

Hi Andy,
PM me your email address and I'll send you some photos of a ball joint splitter I have that you could try if you want. Sorry I don't know how to get photos on here:icon_redface:

Martyn

Yahaaay ... the bluetac wall thingy sounds like a good call, never thought of that when I did it so the garage smelt like a chippy for a few days with the amount I spilled on the floor, hope it works for you.

If it makes you feel any better, it took me two days to get one off once.

Try shock and unlock, other brands are available,

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/pa...ray-400ml-2017

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/c...4440&0&cc5_857