Thread: A-frame ball joint

Hey guys,

My A-frame ball joint needs replacing which I have received from the UK. I was going to do this myself but any info I can find (not much) implies that the rear axle needs removing inorder to do this. Is this the case? Anyone done this job and have any advice?


Cheers,

Phil

CHIEF is correct in that you don't have to remove the axle. You can make it even simpler by just removing the bracket that the ball joint sits in. The nut that holds the ball joint to the axle bracket can be undone with a socket and long bar. Take out the split pin first. There is not much room to move the socket but you can do it. Once you have this undone try levering the ball joint, most likely it will be very tight and will require a hammer and large drift(punch) to belt it up and out. Once again, there is not much room but it can be done. When you have this loose, undo the two bolts that hold the bracket that the ball joint is in, to the two arms that go up to the chassis. Then the ball joint and bracket will come out. The ball joint itself is pressed into this bracket and unless you have a press, a large hammer or the hot spanner (oxy) you will have to take it somewhere to press the old one out and the new one in. Installation is the reverse but ensure you use something like never-sieze on everything including the balljoint taper - next time it will be so much easier to undo. If you dont have access to a press or oxy you can still do it yourself if you can belt the old one out. Don't worry about damaging it with the hammer as it is cactus anyway. Once it's out, thoroughy clean up the hole and heat this bit up in the oven. Put the new ball joint in the freezer and give them an hour or so to expand/contract. When both are ready, use a vice or drift/pipe and hammer and fit them together.Once again smear the new ball joint splined area with neversieze. You will probably have to have a couple of tries to get the temperature right so they fit easily and once they are fitted together you have to seat it quickly or they will bind up as the temperature equalises. Happy balljointing!