Date:         Fri, 16 Jun 2000 08:56:25 -0400
Reply-To:     wb6otg <wb6otg@intrex.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         wb6otg <wb6otg@intrex.net>
Subject:      Re: Removing the top ball joint.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I just did this last weekend (along with the lower ball joints and the tie rod ends)

The upper ball joint is actually the easy one!.  Clamp the assembly that the ball joint is pressed into in a vise and drive the ball joint out with a hand sledge or other LARGE hammer.  Use a steel rod or something as a drift so you are not hitting the ball joint directly.  Pounding directly on the joint could spread out the top of it enough to keep it from going through the hole once you get it loose.  I used a 1 inch steel rod, and the top of it spread considerably by the time I was done!

The lower ball joint is the real pain. It takes over 10 tons of force to press it in, and you need a special tool (which took quite a bit of time to make) just to be able to press it in!

Bill
>Okay .. what's the secret here....

>I've got one of those wedge things but it don't seem
>to make much difference. Should the joint be fixed to
>the top sub-frame as it hit it or not.

>I tried one of those screw type gadgets that operate
>by forcing the joint apart as you screw it in. - Too
>small, could not get it attached.

>A loaned a big mother of a gadget from AUtozone - too
>big. This one is like a big G-clamp. you use two
>hollow tubes and then screw a piece in .. too
>difficult to explain!

>Upshot is I'm making no progress .. any help ? or is
>it  a job for the 'professionals'!

            steve