P38A Upper and Lower Ball Joint tools?

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Andy Burrell

Retired to the country
Posts
190
Location
Cambridgeshire
I have just ordered new delphi ball joints as they need doing before the mot at the end of July. I intend to purchase an extractor and wonder which ones to avoid? Can't justify buying a LR one if you can still get them. There seem to be two types, ones that look like a G clamp and ones with a frame and a central screw plus prices from about £65 up to £450
Any pointers welcome.
 
I used the G clamp type but had to make up a spacer and a pusher, so buy a set with the most tubes. Fairly easy job IMO once the ABS sensor and hub were out. I did the CV joints and boots at the same time.
 
Here you go. This is the bigger set I've got. Me kanic :rolleyes:
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Definitely get the kit with extra tubes & mandrels.

This one worked ok, but needed to use large socket because tubes were wrong size.
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Wish I had bought this kit instead.. About £60-£70 on Amazon
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@Andy Burrell You must, or should either buy the special tool for the balljoints, or as the others say, the c clamps with the most press tubes.
C clamp would probably be the best as u can use it for many other things i suppose.

This is the one i've got, weird thing is that i got it with a red case, and not blue, even tho it stated blue :D
Red is definetly nicer tho

Changing ball joints in itself is very easy with this type of press. I used 10-15 mins to press them out, and it was first time using the press, so i had to fiddle with different cups :)

You will need a long breaker arm in order to turn the threads around when it is under quite much press
Use a small carpenter hammer to hammer around the yoke, you dont need much effort with the hammer, just tap it at a comfortable sound level...

I highly recommend a kit looking similar to mine, ive heard people getting trouble with the budget ones.

I paid around 120-150$ since i live in Norway and everything is expensive here :)
In my eyes, worth it.

My mind set is, if i can do it cheaper than a workshop can, i'll do it. Even if i've gotta buy the tools for it. That means you can do it more times, for a way smaller cost!


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same as others has said the G clamp kit is good the more cups the better
me and brother inlaw did both side upper and lower ball joints plus radius arm bushes in a day.
local independent garage told me would be two days to do all the work even though I was supplying the parts
 
I have ordered one of the full sets this morning and it should be here tomorrow or Wednesday. Think it's going to be a bit of pig to do given the amount of rust, will give it a good soak with penetrating oil for a couple of days before I start.
 
I have ordered one of the full sets this morning and it should be here tomorrow or Wednesday. Think it's going to be a bit of pig to do given the amount of rust, will give it a good soak with penetrating oil for a couple of days before I start.
I popped my new ball joints in the freezer for 24 hours before I popped them in the slide in a bit easier aswell
 
+1 on penetrating fluid applied every day for few days. Then as you wind up the force on the c-clamp, keep heating the joint housing, and repeat as you increase the tool pressure on the ball joint.

I also heated the empty housing before installing the new frozen joints. The housing cools quite quickly, but should be still expanded a bit while you fit the tool on the new joint.
 
First stumbling block, the hub nuts are not budging. I folded the tabs out, applied plus gas. Tried my big dewalt impact wrench, tried a 2ft breaker bar to a point I was worried it would break, tried heat and giving it a wack whilst using the breaker bar no joy. Will see if I can get a longer breaker bar. Anything else I can try?
 
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