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guineafowl21

Well-Known Member

• Jun 22, 2015

• #1

Hi all,

02 Td4 S. I've bought a ball joint for the LF lower control arm. Various threads on here describe grinding off the rivets, so I've ground one down flush with the arm, but it won't press or hammer out. Do the rivets only come out one way? I'm attacking the bottom edge. I've tried drilling too, but they're hard as b*ggery. Do I just need to try harder or am I doing it wrong?

Cheers

 

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C13tay1

Active Member

• Jun 22, 2015

• #2

When I did mine..... Ground all the rivets down ..... Gave the ball joint a whack with the hammer and off it came

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Jun 22, 2015

• #3

The rivets are a very tight fit in the ball joint. I use a 3Lb club hammer and parallel punch, making sure that the arm is well supported. They will come out but require some persuasion.

 

Irishrover

Well-Known Member

• Jun 22, 2015

• #4

The rivet heads are dimpled in the centre. Use a 4mm HSS drill first followed with an 8.5mm.
Don't run at high speed, it will burn the drill tip and if possible use a pillar drilling machine and ideally a cutting compound or at a push, ordinary engine oil to keep the drill cool.

 

Hippo

Lord Hippo

• Jun 22, 2015

• #5

Make sure the new ball joint will fit first. Some of the arms are thicker than others.

 

teddywood1

Well-Known Member

• Jun 23, 2015

• #6

Always support the arm or when you hit it ,it will just bounce away and you can hit it fo r ever more and you will make no difference

 

jedi

Well-Known Member

• Jun 23, 2015

• #7

 

teddywood1

Well-Known Member

• Jun 24, 2015

• #8

I think that would be just a tad over doing it that way

 

ER1C

Well-Known Member

• Jun 24, 2015

• #9

teddywood1 said:

I think that would be just a tad over doing it that way

Click to expand...

Yeahh I thought the military fatigues were too much as well.

 

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guineafowl21

Well-Known Member

• Jun 25, 2015

• #10

Thanks everyone. I think I need a bigger hammer - just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something stupid.