| Author |
Message |
Judd's68
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005
Posts: 68
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:01 pm Post subject: BALL JOINT |
 |
|
I lubed my 68's front axle this morning. woah! that thing was bone dry. looks like the previous owner did not bother with this. Anyway, looking around, I saw that the rubber of the driver side ball joints are already torn. How hard is it to replace these? Will I need special tools? Tips? Help!!
Thanks,
judd  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76947
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If the boot is torn, but the joint is OK, just replace the boot.
If the ball joint needs to be replaced, you need a ball joint press.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Judd's68
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005
Posts: 68
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="Glenn"]If the boot is torn, but the joint is OK, just replace the boot.
If the ball joint needs to be replaced, you need a ball joint press.[/quote]
Thanks for a quick response. Not to sound dumb, how do I know if the ball joint is still good? Would you recommend just replacing it anyway?
If I have to replace the ball joints, where can I buy this ball joint press?
Thanks again! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76947
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Jack the car up so the wheel is off the ground. Grab the wheel at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. Rock the wheel and look if you see movement at the upper and lower ball joints.
That specific tool was made by OTC. They still make a similar one, but you can't get the the Type 1 specific fixtures. You'll need to find someone local that has the tool or buy reconditioned trailing arms with new ball joints installed.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Judd's68
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005
Posts: 68
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry to keep buggin you Glenn but I want to get this done and done right! It's my daily driver and I have my kids with me in the morning.
I'll jack it later and see if there is wheel play. If there is no play, do I put grease inside the ball joint before I put on the boots?
If you say replace the trailing arm, how hard is this to replace? I have some mechanical experience and would like to do this myself so I'm not worried about getting my hands dirty. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76947
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If it's a daily driver you might want to let a pro do it.
Personally... when i doubt i'd replace the joint. Butthat's easy for me to say cause I have the tools and done it before.
Changing the trailing arms is not hard, but does require taking the frontend apart. And afterwards you'll need a frontend alignment.
Find a good mechanic and just let him do it.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Judd's68
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005
Posts: 68
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
yeah, I might just do that. Thanks for your time Glenn.
Judd |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
brice
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 211
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I took my control arms to a shop where they decided to use an impact hammer/chisel to remove the old ball joints. They seemed to catch it on an edge and manage to get both of them out w/o scratching the housing. They did the same with the bushings... go figure? 
~ Brice |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
keifernet
Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 19395
Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| brice wrote: |
I took my control arms to a shop where they decided to use an impact hammer/chisel to remove the old ball joints. They seemed to catch it on an edge and manage to get both of them out w/o scratching the housing. They did the same with the bushings... go figure?
~ Brice |
Sounds like you are referring to Super beetle ( control arms/bushings) not the regular Bug 4 ball joint/upper/lower trailing arms type front end. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vicsvw
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2003
Posts: 1001
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
keifernet
Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 19395
Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:16 pm Post subject: Re: Cheap and Easy to remove |
|
|
Then any local shop can press the new one in if you don't have access to a press.
Yeah... so removing them is only half the battle... and most of these guys out here asking about how to do ball joints probably don't have welders in the ol 2 car suburban garage.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Russ Wolfe
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2004
Posts: 25187
Location: Central Iowa
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenn wrote: |
If the boot is torn, but the joint is OK, just replace the boot.
If the ball joint needs to be replaced, you need a ball joint press.
|
And that tool also had the adapters that would do the super beetle inner bushings.
_________________
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey
Gary: OK. Ima poop. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
execk2
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2005
Posts: 1359
Location: Quebec City
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
When I replaced my beam and I bought new torsion bars with ball joints. Why not just get new ones? They just bolt right onto the torsion leaves then you pry it up to the spindle and your done. They cost about $40.00 each from CIP. No wheel alignment required since you aren't touching the tie-rods.
_________________
Mike
www.mikeandjosee.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
keifernet
Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 19395
Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| execk2 wrote: |
| When I replaced my beam and I bought new torsion bars with ball joints. Why not just get new ones? They just bolt right onto the torsion leaves then you pry it up to the spindle and your done. They cost about $40.00 each from CIP. No wheel alignment required since you aren't touching the tie-rods. |
If you replace ball joints/ whole trailing arms etc. or dissasemble the spindles and disturb the eccentric nut position you WILL need to have the alignment checked/adjusted. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vicsvw
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2003
Posts: 1001
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:28 am Post subject: Ball Joints |
|
|
| Ball Joints run just $12.95 and as keifernet said you will need to have the front end checked. If you mark the location of #46 and then replace the B.J. http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/0.suspension_ft.all.htm Every thing will be the same as before. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
keifernet
Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 19395
Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
One thing I have found over the years is that even if you mark the eccentric and put it back where it was the front end may not "be aligned to spec"
Reason being ( so I figure) is that at some point an alignment may have been done with WORN/ near worn out ball joints. When you put in the new ones they are much tighter thus the alignment is not correct.
Alignments are cheaper than tires and front end parts... if you have a decent shop/tire store that offers a "lifetime" alignment you can get it checked out everytime you have to change any front end components and not have to pay each time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Judd's68
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005
Posts: 68
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for all your tips. I would definitely try to do this myself but I don't have the time right now. I have to garage her for now until I fix that ball joint. I am thinking of getting a trailing arm from the junkyard and experiment with this first. I am taking a good look at the ball joint press pic that Glenn posted. I am thinking of fabricating one... Well, still thinking about it. If I am successful...... and lucky, I'll let you guys know.
Thanks again!
Judd |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76947
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Judd's68 wrote: |
I am taking a good look at the ball joint press pic that Glenn posted. I am thinking of fabricating one...
Judd |
OTC still makes the "C" clamp part. It's the fixtures that hold the ball joint that you can't get. And i'm sure they're not easy to make.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
