Thread: Replacing A-frame ball joint

Yep they can take some getting out. I sometmes just heat the housing as my press won't alway shift them. If you heat the housing they will come out with 3 hits of a big hammer.

I used a 10 ton press, and it didn't shift it.

Had to heat the housing with the oxy torch, and then it pressed out.

Just be careful!
When mine was heated, the ball exploded out from the housing, made an enormous sound, and became a projectile.
Not sure of the reason, but the likely cause was the grease heating up and expanding, and pressing the ball out.

New one pressed in OK, but ensure the splines and mounting holes line up, and the thing goes in squarely.

I have done this on both a 94 Disco and a 92 Defender. In both cases I used a 50 ton press, but interestingly, it was the Disco that was the most difficult. The Defender's joint popped out with a mere 5 tons on the press. The Disco took 26 tons before it popped. 8O I think there's some luck involved. I've heard stories where people have had them pop out with just a couple of thwacks from a BFH. Others that have spent hours on it and tried just about everything.

I might be stating the obvious here, but once you've taken it out of the vehicle and removed the two retaining bolts, you're best off using a hacksaw to cut the 'ears' off the balljoint. That way you can support it properly (and safely) before either pressing it out, or attacking it with your choice of BFHs.

Also, make sure you thread the new bolts in position through the 'ears' of the new joint as you press it in, that way it should line up right. It'd be cause for naughty language if you pressed the new joint in to find it moved off line in the process and the bolt holes don't line up.


Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Of course if you don't want drama, M.R automotive do a original equipment ball joint already pressed in the housing for about $120 exchange makes the job really easy. In fact I went this way on Dad's car a couple of months back just because it was quick and simple, 2 bolts one nut, 1/2 hour.