<![CDATA[Volkswebbin — Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/topic/86619/ball-joint-removal/ Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:38:03 +0000 PunBB <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252116/#p252116 My brother is a machinist, but we were on "borrowed" shop time.   I don't think they're licensed to work on automotive parts legally, so we didn't want to push our luck by trying to make the correct collars. 

I just shipped them down to German Supply in Toronto, and for 75$ it was done without a hassle.

I don't really plan on doing them that often but I'd be willing to buy one of those tools if anyone has one... just in case wink

]]> Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:38:03 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252116/#p252116 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252008/#p252008 I've always removed the arms and used my hydraulic press, making tubular spacers and supports as needed. Often pipe fittings can be machined the right size to work.
I only use the press a couple times a year now, but it's paid for itself in shop charges.

]]> Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:25:27 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252008/#p252008 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252002/#p252002 I still have mine to 2 also too. But it is still in pretty good shape. I have worn out 2 others.
bignic, any competent machine shop should be able to make you some collars, if they can't, get a new machine shop.
I tried one of those c-clamps and it didn't work for me. Maybe cause I have used the real thing for so many years.

]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:04:32 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252002/#p252002 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252000/#p252000 I still have the Tool that Burr referred to, its in pretty sad shape but still does the job....I MIGHT be interested in buying a spare if somebody still has one....

                                                               Yancey

]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:47:18 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/252000/#p252000 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251999/#p251999 burrhead wrote:

The tool I was referring to was made by Assenmacher Tool Co. It allowed you to change out the ball joints still on the car.
I did a search but looks like nobody stocks it. Maybe not being made?
I don't think those other ball joint tools will work very well.

One would thing that there's still a small market for such tools?  Not so much the C-Clamp but the collars that fit on the torsion arm and hold the ball-joint straight - those can't be prohibitively expensive to make?  Must still be a pretty common tool for Mexican shops?

I don't like that my list of shop-outsourcing is growing beyond align bores and head rebuilding ...  I want to do it all in my garage!

]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:29:33 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251999/#p251999 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251998/#p251998 I think bignic is trying to get the ball joint out of the arm not separating the ball joint from the spindle  wink
The tool I was referring to was made by Assenmacher Tool Co. It allowed you to change out the ball joints still on the car.
I did a search but looks like nobody stocks it. Maybe not being made?
I don't think those other ball joint tools will work very well.

]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:48:39 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251998/#p251998 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251997/#p251997 One method I recall reading about was using a jack to apply upward pressure on the arm after removing the nut, then giving the cage surrounding the balljoint some "love taps" with a ball peen hammer.

The theory there being the vibrations would loosen the friction fit holding it in place.

It's been a while since I've had to separate any, but I'm pretty sure I used that sort of technique along with the fork to pursuade them apart.

Optimally, the proper tool is much easier on parts you might want to save.

]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:49:56 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251997/#p251997 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251991/#p251991 Here are a couple "kits" at Harbor Freight which might be useful:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d … umber=4065

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/04000-04099/04065.gif

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d … mber=38335

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/38300-38399/38335.gif

Hope this helps,

- Nick

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:30:15 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251991/#p251991 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251990/#p251990 Here's a photo of the ball joint removal tool used in the video.  I searched for it online...but couldn't find anyone selling it.

- Nick

http://glenn-ring.com/temp/ball_joint_tool.jpg

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:25:47 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251990/#p251990 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251989/#p251989 This may not be super helpful...but it's a pretty funny video of a mechanic removing a ball joint on a bus. 

The "funny" or interesting parts are:

- as the mechanic is assembling or installing the ball joint removal tool...the whole assembly falls to the floor before he's able to tighten things up...just like it might happen to any of us!  So he has to do it a 2nd time.

- at the end he says "HA"...lol!: )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihW9jNLjLZI

- Nick

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:05:53 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251989/#p251989 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251988/#p251988 Where can one source out one of these magical tools? 

I've actually done quite a bit of searching, and had concluded that no such unicorn exists!

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:39:16 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251988/#p251988 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251987/#p251987 Yancey wrote:

spam? Yancey

What you talkin bout, Willis?
                                      LOL

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:13:17 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251987/#p251987 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251983/#p251983 There is a special tool made for VW ball joint removal.Cost about 5 bills so that is why the shop likes to furnish parts. someone has to pay for that specialty tool. It allows you to do them on the car. But any good machine shop should be able to press them out for you . heat might work to take them out but not to put them in.
I want to see someone remove them with just a pickle fork,LOL

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:27:38 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251983/#p251983 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251982/#p251982 Do you have a particular jig or mold that you use? 

There doesn't appear to be much of a surface to press against, as the front of the torsion arm slopes down and is very thin.   (I believe that is the lower, while the upper arms both seem to have more surface area as well as a 'tab')

]]> Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:02:45 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251982/#p251982 <![CDATA[Re: Ball joint removal]]> http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251981/#p251981 thebignic wrote:

We've got the joints out of the spindles already and the torsion arms have been removed from the front end... I'm talking about pressing the ball joints out of the torsion arm.

Sorry...I missed that detail.  I have a press, and I usually give that a try first.  But if I felt my press couldn't handle it, I go to a local machine shop.

- Nick

]]> Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:43:39 +0000 http://www.volkswebbin.net/post/251981/#p251981