Front lower control arm - ball joint splitter

[shanegtr]

Just attempted to change my front lower control arms this morning. Had to abort the job as I managed to break my ball joint splitter on the first arm (the old cast fork hammer in jobbies) so I need to get a replacement. For those that have done the job what splitter have you used? I'm looking at the scissor type screw ones, but most I look at don't appear to open the jaws up enough for the disco

[Ralasa]

hi there never used a splitter, just big hits on the side with a hammer, will drop out , there a video on youtube , replacing lower control arm

[shanegtr]

hi there never used a splitter, just big hits on the side with a hammer, will drop out , there a video on youtube , replacing lower control arm

I know giving it a decent whack works well - done it more times that I can count at work for similar taper pins. Im just not a big fan of doing it on my own gear. :p

[kenl]

Yeah what he said! I put a lever in there to apply some pressure to separate the joint and smack the side of the joint with a hammer 1 well placed blow will expand the ring just enough for it to come apart. Leave the nut on a couple of threads to control the process otherwise you will have bars flying about the place.

[Roblott]

I replaced tie-rods and upper control arms on my D3 recently. I used the separator that looks a bit like a rigid gear-puller.

It's a simple horse-shoe shaped clamp with a threaded rod through the top that when turned, applies pressure on the ball joint thread.

As mentioned previously, loosen the nut but leave it attached and keep your distance, pullers (or pushers?) input a lot of energy into that system that can be released uncontrollably in an instant.

[shanegtr]

Ended up sorting it with no puller/splitter. Just one of my decent sized levers and a hammer after I couldnt find a tool (without spending excessive $$$$) to do the job. . Actually split fairly easily.