O.K. My ball joints are a rockin' and I need to replace them. It's my first "non-cosmetic" home job on the Bay, and I have a couple of Q's for you friendly, clever people (I'm not too good at brown nosing as you can see).

How much damage am I doing driving on knocking ball joints?

My manual says I need a special tool to knock the spindles out, and that I shouldn't use a hammer. Anyone have a special technique for this?

Anyone have any of those "I was such and idiot for doing this..." stories for me? Some other tips?

Any help would be most appreciated.




:beer

Shit, I just found the deal with the special tool on another thread. A 25 tonne press. I don't have one of those in my back pocket. Does anyone do ball joints
at home?

Either use a tie-rod puller or ball joint removal tool.

Or use a hammer and hit the side of the joint housing, not the treaded end.

I hammered away for a while on an old joint once with no luck, then took it to the local brake shop - 2 hits to the side of the joint and voila!

They're the only joints you should touch BTW
:jesus

Thanks! I think I'm getting worried about my own abilities!

What about ripping the torsion arms with the ball joints off
a wrecker? I would only know how good they were tho' when
they were on my ride and under pressure.

Anyone done this?

Check out the cost of having them pressed out by Mick Motors, pull the arms out and take them down there.

You might find its not worth the agro of doing it yourself.

(Plug for the Sponsor)

Good plug Man!!! Good idea too! Thanks!

Mick Supports us, so it's only fair to support him back.

If you are going to try the hammer trick, hold a dolly (good solid heavy lump of metal) on the other side, or you may bend them (and that's a bad thing.)

...and it's one of the only things that the how to keep your VW alive book for compleat idiots suggests you get someone else to do. Too much trouble they reckon.