Aussieveedubbers · Tech Talk

replacing ball joints 68 beetle

https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/threads/76834/replacing-ball-joints-68-beetle

gsa2at ·

about to do this job - new ball joints tie rod ends disc rotas and dropped spindles; also new front shocks
any tips on how to get the ball joints out and the new ones in would be much appreciated!!

68AutoBug ·

gsa2at wrote:about to do this job - new ball joints tie rod ends disc rotas and dropped spindles; also new front shocks
any tips on how to get the ball joints out and the new ones in would be much appreciated!!
It took a 50 ton press to push out My old ball joints
a 20 tonne press wouldn't move them....
so You won';t be able to knock them out Yourself..

Make sure Your ball joint and tie rod end rubber boots have grease around the top of them..
carefully open the top and push some grease in there..
Lithium based moly grease recommended...

What happened with ALL My new boots...
the top of the boot wasn't lubricated and when the ball joint/tie rod twisted... the boots ripped open....
I have since replaced all the boots...
All My parts were made in Switzerland...
so not taiwan etc..
This may not happen with some brands of ball joints etc...
but its not fun to have to pull everything apart not long after assembling them...

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

VWCOOL ·

yeah big press needed: try a trucking joint

Check the old before you press them out - make sure you line up the indents in the new balljoints correctly with the arms

kombivw ·

Fun Fun Fun I have only removed a strut and the special tool I used was a FB Hammer in the words of Joel. I kept the struts bolted at the top and with my F B Hammer I belted the shxt out of them in as many different positions on the joint as possible. It worked. Putting new strut back on was a breeze just a bit of fine emery and grease and simple.

trickysimon ·

Wasn't it "BF" Hammer? 😂

kombivw ·

True. But He was too far away for me to borrow his BF hammer so I had to use my FB hammer instead

gsa2at ·

68AutoBug wrote:
gsa2at wrote:about to do this job - new ball joints tie rod ends disc rotas and dropped spindles; also new front shocks
any tips on how to get the ball joints out and the new ones in would be much appreciated!!
It took a 50 ton press to push out My old ball joints
a 20 tonne press wouldn't move them....
so You won';t be able to knock them out Yourself..

Make sure Your ball joint and tie rod end rubber boots have grease around the top of them..
carefully open the top and push some grease in there..
Lithium based moly grease recommended...

What happened with ALL My new boots...
the top of the boot wasn't lubricated and when the ball joint/tie rod twisted... the boots ripped open....
I have since replaced all the boots...
All My parts were made in Switzerland...
so not taiwan etc..
This may not happen with some brands of ball joints etc...
but its not fun to have to pull everything apart not long after assembling them...

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
thanks lee
i removed the arms and took them round the corner to a mechanic friend - who kindly allowed me to use his 20 tonne press - after an hour had the old ones out and new ones in
will add some grease as suggested
another day !! buggered after fitting the new front shocks ; bearings to new rotas

RISKYBUG ·

i have just done this
i socked mine with with pen oil for two weeks
as my mech only has a 30 ton press
he told me they would be easy but after he said they where hard
but as vwcool get them in the right way thats why my old ones where stuffed
they have to move with every thing