Thread: urgent help needed (ball joint)

Originally Posted by worraps

Hi guys

I just finished changing my front diff all done with no problems

Unitill i started refitting the steering arm ball joint (swivell end)
as i was tightening it back up and trying to get it to reseat i sheared the bolt off

if anybody could tell me what it's actuall called and how do i remove the ball joint from th earm (does it just unscrew??) and the best way to reseat it so as not to sheer off the bolt on the new one


anyhelp would be great


thanks
Worraps

Big hammer. The metal steering part into which your tapered ball joint fits will flex slightly when you carefully apply hammer blows on the same angle as your taper. Should just jump out. When you refit a new tie rod end make sure its all clean and don't go animal on the spanner to tighten the nut. A 25cm long spanner and strong hand pressure should approximate a good tightening torque.

Originally Posted by worraps

Hi guys



Unitill i started refitting the steering arm ball joint (swivell end)
as i was tightening it back up and trying to get it to reseat i sheared the bolt off

if anybody could tell me what it's actuall called and how do i remove the ball joint from th earm (does it just unscrew??) and the best way to reseat it so as not to sheer off the bolt on the new one


anyhelp would be great


thanks
Worraps

Have you actually sheared the ball joint threaded bit from the tapered bit ?, I would have thought this to be near impossible, or have you sheared the pinch bolt which on some tie rods clamps over the outside of the tie rod and holds the tie rod end in place in the tie rod ?
Perhaps some sort of clue as to what type of vehicle would help.
And yes, the tie rod end just screws into the tie rod though you usually have left hand threaded on one end of the tie rod and right hand threaded on the other to allow easy adjustment.

Deano

if it is the thread on the end of the conical tapered portion that goes through the arm attached to the hub then as said above hammer blows to the arm where it goes around the tapered bit is the way. One hammer or heavy anvil acting piece of metal on one side and strike it on the other side with the hammer.

thanks guys yes it was the threaded bit in the taper that i sheared off
I now have a new balljoint but i can not for the life of me get the old
BJ to unscrew from the stearing arm Any suggestions here would be great

i was told by MR count how many turns to undo it then fit new one same amount of turns and i should get away with no wheel alignment as it should be fairly close (now just to get it out)


thanks
worraps

it's a 96 tdi disco (sorry anbout that)

Righto!
Does the ball joint lock into the steering arm by tightening nuts on the threaded part of the ball joint or by tightening a clamp on the outside of the steering arm over the portion where the ball joint screws into the steering arm ?
Either way, loosen the locking mechanism, grab the steering arm with a pipe wrench stick a spanner on the ball joint and twist. Don't be gentle give it heaps. Belting the screwed in bit with a large hammer may help to loosen the ball joint connection. Remember, it may be a left hand thread. Try rocking it to loosen. If this doesn't work try removing the steering arm by undoing the other end and taking it out. As said in other posts, loosen the nut and belt each side with a hammer at the same time and the ball joint will pop, if not belt it harder and/or use bigger hammers. This gives you a couple of good things. One you can accurately measure the distance between centres for correct alignment and two it allows you easy access to put in a vice and undo properly. It's also less stressful and cuts down the swearing markedly!

Deano

Ok i ended up removing the arm completly as i was just getting no where
once removed i used a big pair of vice grips to hold the arm and tryed a big spanner off the ball joint to get it to turn no luck

then tryed a big hammer it has not even budged a fraction almost feels like it's never been ajusted but ran out of light and patients for today
i will attack again tomorrow

Worst case sinario whats a arm worth (lol)

Thanks
worraps

Location ? - I have a ball joint removal device you can borrow. ( Ormeau area)

We had to make a press using a large high tensile bolt and some big washers and sockets as spacers and slowly apply force to it to get it off. We've done 3 that way. PM Minnithemoocha, as he's still got the tool we made and he may be able to offer more advice, without it in front of me, it's hard to describe. I used a Series Landy spring shackle bolt as it has a strong fine thread.

We were able to do them all in-situ.


Edit : Oops - sorry I thought you were talking about the steering drop arm.