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jimwebby Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:18 pm Post subject: Ball Joint Woes... |
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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 Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 19395 Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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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! |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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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...
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. _________________ 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 |
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keifernet Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 19395 Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
I'll scan it an put it on my website. I'll PM you the links tomorrow. _________________ 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 |
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keifernet Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 19395 Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Cool, thanks Glenn. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe better.. I have some copies... PM me you're mailing address and i'll send you a hardcopy. _________________ 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 |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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the "check" is in the mail... _________________ 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 |
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Jeff H Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2002 Posts: 575
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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Keifer & Glenn, you guys are starting to scare me!
JSH |
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jimwebby Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:11 am Post subject: |
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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 Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 19395 Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Jeff H wrote: |
Keifer & Glenn, you guys are starting to scare me!
JSH |
Just why is that Jeff?
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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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:01 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 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 |
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jimwebby Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:26 am Post subject: |
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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 Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 19395 Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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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 Mad Scientist
Joined: January 06, 2004 Posts: 717 Location: Practitioner of 36hp alchemy
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jimwebby Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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javascript:emoticon('')
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 Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 19395 Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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jimwebby wrote: |
javascript:emoticon('')
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! |
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HippieBus Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2007 Posts: 93 Location: New Braunfels Texas
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:59 am Post subject: |
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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 Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2006 Posts: 1405 Location: Jefferson, GA
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:21 am Post subject: |
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The notch should be pointed straight forward or straight back.
Marvin |
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Spanky Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2005 Posts: 82 Location: Martha's Vineyard MA and Cincinnati OH
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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:03 am Post subject: |
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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 _________________ 1959 Renault Caravelle
1973 Citroen Maseratti SM
1974 Chevy Malibu Wagon
1979 Vespa Scooters (2), 1981 BMW R65
'73 Thingy. |
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