Steering Knuckle Ball Joint Removal

SteveG4TRA · Jul 20, 2018

I guess this one has been talked to death before on here. I need to replace the upper and lower steering knuckle ball joints and am well aware of what a pain they are to remove and refit. I have been looking at the various Chinese import Ball Joint Presses for the job on E bay and wondered what Forum members with far greater experience of this job would recommend.
Steve

jamesmartin · Jul 20, 2018

hydraulic pullers or hydraulic jacks 15-20 tons

johnlad · Jul 20, 2018

Stevehh said:
I guess this one has been talked to death before on here. I need to replace the upper and lower steering knuckle ball joints and am well aware of what a pain they are to remove and refit. I have been looking at the various Chinese import Ball Joint Presses for the job on E bay and wondered what Forum members with far greater experience of this job would recommend.
Steve

Did mine using the Chinese press thing, like a big g clamp with spacer tubes, get as much tension on as you can the hit with hammer, they move fractions at a time. Not a job I ever want to do again

SteveG4TRA · Jul 21, 2018

johnlad said:
Did mine using the Chinese press thing, like a big g clamp with spacer tubes, get as much tension on as you can the hit with hammer, they move fractions at a time. Not a job I ever want to do again

Thanks so far for the info.
I was looking at maybe this one, but would it do the job I wonder:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10PC-Hea...m=123132148783&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

sierrafery · Jul 21, 2018

I like this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOOK-Bra...275525&hash=item1ee6200812:g:1C0AAOSwHnFV0eDP cos with it only the size of the hammer matters...and your brute force

johnlad · Jul 21, 2018

sierrafery said:
I like this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOOK-Bra...275525&hash=item1ee6200812:g:1C0AAOSwHnFV0eDP cos with it only the size of the hammer matters...and your brute force

That won’t touch the steering knuckle ball joints

johnlad · Jul 21, 2018

Stevehh said:
Thanks so far for the info.
I was looking at maybe this one, but would it do the job I wonder:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10PC-Heavy-Duty-4-In-1-Ball-Joint-Service-Remover-Installer-Adaptor-Car-Van-Kit/123132148783?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=52543&meid=3fc74adeed384621a0dafa6b48965677&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=12&sd=112988332149&itm=123132148783&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Yeah that’s the type I used, the box was red but that’s not gonna matter.
In reality it is a massive thread and frame, but I still distorted mine doing the Ball joints

Lazydave · Jul 21, 2018

Pawl · Jul 21, 2018

I think the key to using those big G clamps is to wind some tension on & then hit the knuckle next to the ball joint. The joint will the move a mm or so & you keep repeating until its out.
Definitely don't just try to use the g clamp thread to force the joint out.

neilly · Jul 21, 2018

there was a great vid on the tube of you showing them being used by an ozzie, unfortunately it has gone, but here is another, just not as good.

Cheers

jamesmartin · Jul 21, 2018

that vid has ball joints that move easier than the ones i see,but then they dont get the corrosion i suppose

neilly · Jul 21, 2018

jamesmartin said:
that vid has ball joints that move easier than the ones i see,but then they dont get the corrosion i suppose

It is not real time....LOL.

Cheers

jamesmartin · Jul 21, 2018

neilly said:
It is not real time....LOL.

Cheers

you dont say

brian47 · Jul 22, 2018

TBH that's one job when I would use the kit at the local garage, and let them show me how to do it too..

Landmark2 · Jul 22, 2018

I managed to remove both my o/s ones with a Cromwells make kit and got the bottom one back in but the top one defeated me as I couldn't get it started, so local indie did it for me.
Griff

SteveG4TRA · Jul 23, 2018

johnlad said:
Yeah that’s the type I used, the box was red but that’s not gonna matter.
In reality it is a massive thread and frame, but I still distorted mine doing the Ball joints

OK so it is possible with this one, that's good news

SteveG4TRA · Jul 23, 2018

Landmark2 said:
I managed to remove both my o/s ones with a Cromwells make kit and got the bottom one back in but the top one defeated me as I couldn't get it started, so local indie did it for me.
Griff

Did he actually come to your place as the D2 would be unmovable at that stage?

SteveG4TRA · Jul 23, 2018

Pawl said:
I think the key to using those big G clamps is to wind some tension on & then hit the knuckle next to the ball joint. The joint will the move a mm or so & you keep repeating until its out.
Definitely don't just try to use the g clamp thread to force the joint out.

Absolutely. My intention was a real good clean up, a few days of WD40 applications, wind initial tension on with the clamp, whack with large clump hammer, wind a bit more on and repeat. I know this will take time too.

Landmark2 · Jul 23, 2018

Stevehh said:
Did he actually come to your place as the D2 would be unmovable at that stage?

Hi, Yes.

SteveG4TRA · Jul 24, 2018

Landmark2 said:
Hi, Yes.

I am at the point where the four bolts connecting the hub to the steering knuckle are removed, the ABS cable disconnected and free, calliper and back plate off.
Rave talks about removing the drive shaft nut, which looks a bitch as the nut is peened over into a recess. Can this be left on and the hub and drive shaft pulled as a complete unit? If so looking at the Oz You tube video "Replace Ball Joints" he removes something from the top of the hub before pulling it off. Is this the ABS sensor bolt? Rave says do not do this.
So am It the point where with the 4 main bolts off and the hub nut still on is it just a matter of breaking the rusty seal and pulling it out as a unit?
Are there any tricks to getting the hub off at this stage?

Steering Knuckle Ball Joint Removal

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