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Ball Joint Woes...
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jimwebby
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:18 pm    Post subject: Ball Joint Woes... Reply with quote

Is there some special technique for getting ball joints out of the trailing arms?

I have tried everything (including whaling on them with a 10lb hammer) without success.

Help!
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keifernet
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have to have a special "c-clamp" type ball joint tool to do them on the car... or take the arms off and use a press. or take them to a shop with a press and let them do it...

I'm sure Glenn will be along with the picture of the tool anytime now! Wink
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Glenn Premium Member
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the invitation.....

There are a number of tools and ways to R&R the ball joints. Matco and OTC made a tool that can press out and press in the ball joints with the trailing arms still in the beam.

Here's my OTC press...
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I picked it up with a number of other VW tools from a retired VW mechanic.

You can also remove the trailing arms and use a 20 ton press. The problem is without the correct fixtures, to hold the new ball joints, you can damage them when installing.

Then there's the old heat it untill the trailing arm expands and pound it out.

One last option is to buy "rebuilt" trailing arms with new ball joints already installed.
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keifernet
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Glenn, will you please copy that instruction sheet for me someday.. I have that same tool but never had the sheet.

That is a cool pic, that's why I got your attention Very Happy
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

keifernet wrote:
Hey Glenn, will you please copy that instruction sheet for me someday.. I have that same tool but never had the sheet.

That is a cool pic, that's why I got your attention Very Happy


I'll scan it an put it on my website. I'll PM you the links tomorrow.
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool, thanks Glenn. Smile
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe better.. I have some copies... PM me you're mailing address and i'll send you a hardcopy.
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the "check" is in the mail... Wink
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Jeff H
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keifer & Glenn, you guys are starting to scare me! Smile



JSH
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jimwebby
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenn,

I managed to located a ball joint press the same as yours from Autozone. However, it appears the instructions went 'walk-about' some time in the past.

Any chance I can get the instructions as well?

Cheers,

Jim.
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keifernet
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeff H wrote:
Keifer & Glenn, you guys are starting to scare me! Smile

JSH


Just why is that Jeff? Confused


Beware the tool you rented from AZ may seem similar but it may in fact not have the exact right "cups" and pieces to press the VW joints in and out. Or it might... but I would be sure to check it out before ruining one of your new ball joints. You may have to get creative with some big sockets and some long deep impact sockets

and be sure to check the orientation of the joints... see the 2 notches in them? make sure you get them lined up correct... if you press them in wrong and have to press them out the joint is ruined. ( it is a "press" fit and only meant to go in once, if removed and put bacl... it WILL fall out at some point and that can be disasterous!)
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jimwebby wrote:
Glenn,

I managed to located a ball joint press the same as yours from Autozone. However, it appears the instructions went 'walk-about' some time in the past.

Any chance I can get the instructions as well?

Cheers,

Jim.


Jim,

PM me your mailing address and i'll send you a copy.

It might have to wait until Monday unless i can get to a copy machine before that.

Also checkout the fixtures for the rented tool. OTC still makes the "generic" version of the tool, but no longer makes the fixtures specific to the Type 1. In other words, the rented tool might not fit.
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jimwebby
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenn & Kiefernet,

Cheers to both of you top blokes!

I think the set from AZ is almost certainly of the gerneric kind.

Therefore, I will have to be creative with the sockets.

Am I right in assuming that the two slots show the direction of the major axis of movement of the ball joint?

Thanks once again.

Jim.
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keifernet
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, the notches line up so the joint travels forward and backward ... 6 and 12 o'clock ( for lack of a better description at the moment) Look at the way they are in now and make some marks.

as far as the bits that come with the generic BJ tool... you may get them out okay but getting them back in is the key.

What brand ball joints did you get to replace them with?
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Mr. Motorhead
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 8:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hope you find the right cups for the generic tool,bought mine from Baum tool ages ago when they used to sell aircooled tools.

Quote:
One last option is to buy "rebuilt" trailing arms with new ball joints already installed.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=86715
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

javascript:emoticon('Cool')

Just thought I'd update everyone on my eventually successful efforts to replace the ball joints with the generic press from AZ.

Found that it was necessary to actually destroy to existing balljoint whilst still in the arm by pressing the rod and ball through the back of the joint. once this was out it was then easier to press out the cup from the arm using an impact socket (as suggested above).

Pressing the new ball joint back in was no problem at all (don't forget to line up those notches!).

Would certainly have preferred to use the exact cups, took a bit of balancing everything in line until I could torque the press down, but once I got past realising that I might as well destroy the old one as it wasn't going to be reused, everything was A-OK.

Thanks again for the advice.

Jim
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keifernet
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jimwebby wrote:
javascript:emoticon('Cool')

Just thought I'd update everyone on my eventually successful efforts to replace the ball joints with the generic press from AZ.

Found that it was necessary to actually destroy to existing balljoint whilst still in the arm by pressing the rod and ball through the back of the joint. once this was out it was then easier to press out the cup from the arm using an impact socket (as suggested above).

Pressing the new ball joint back in was no problem at all (don't forget to line up those notches!).

Would certainly have preferred to use the exact cups, took a bit of balancing everything in line until I could torque the press down, but once I got past realising that I might as well destroy the old one as it wasn't going to be reused, everything was A-OK.

Thanks again for the advice.

Jim


Thanks for the update Jim... alot of people don't take the time to come back and say thanks for the tips, but they sure as hell come back screaming if what you told them doesn't work! Shocked Laughing Wink
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HippieBus
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My trailing arms (original VW from 71) do not have notches in them. The new ball joints do, but nothing, no marks at all on the arms. How do I know the orientations of the BJ. I did not mark them when I pressed them out over a month ago.
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GA_Boy
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The notch should be pointed straight forward or straight back.
Marvin
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Spanky
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenn wrote:
Thanks for the invitation.....

Then there's the old heat it untill the trailing arm expands and pound it out.

One last option is to buy "rebuilt" trailing arms with new ball joints already installed.


Have you heard of any THING steering knuckles for sale with ball joints already attached?

Spanky
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