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bugcity4154
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2020
Posts: 68
Location: Naperville, IL
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 Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:45 pm Post subject: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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I’m sure this has been asked a million times here… BUTTTTTTT:
Does anyone know how to replace ball joints on these late Super control arms? Trying to get them out of my 79 and there seems to be no good way to “catch” on the arm itself to press the joints out. |
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infiniteLoop
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2020
Posts: 265
Location: Empire State
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 8:17 am Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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| What about a balljoint press kit sleeve? |
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bugcity4154
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2020
Posts: 68
Location: Naperville, IL
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:16 pm Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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infinite loop,
I rented the ball joint press from Advance Auto, however, the edge of the arm is so narrow that there's nothing to grip to... any ideas? |
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Tvättbjörn
Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 1431
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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| The universal kits usually do not have the correct sleeves when it comes to a tight fit. Try finding a thick wall steel pipe and have it opened up on a lathe that it just slides over the ball joint base. I know there is only a very small lip for the sleeve to sit on. Do not damage your control arm with the wrong sleeve!!! Have one made for it. We always used a hydraulic press also to press them out. |
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Tim Donahoe
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012
Posts: 11740
Location: Redding, CA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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I had a VW shop do this for me. He had to take a hack saw to the edges of the ball joint, cutting away some of the material. Basically, he cut the lip off one side of the ball joint, then the other side. This way, he could get a grip with his press, using a large socket that fit the edges of the control arm.
When cutting the ball joint sides, you’ll naturally not cut into the control arm.
No need to press the new one in. You just tighten the nut to spec.
I assume he had a fresh blade on the hack saw, because it only took him a few minutes to cut off the two opposing sides of the ball joint flanges.
Tim
_________________
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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infiniteLoop
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2020
Posts: 265
Location: Empire State
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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| If you have a big 2 arm gear puller I would try that on it. I can't see a stamped steel control arm being as difficult as a cast one. |
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Tvättbjörn
Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 1431
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:16 pm Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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| infiniteLoop wrote: |
| If you have a big 2 arm gear puller I would try that on it. I can't see a stamped steel control arm being as difficult as a cast one. |
the steel version is thinner and less strong. Less material to put on a puller. A 2 arm arm puller will destroy the arm. Sometime you just have to have the correct tools to do the job. |
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volksworld
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
Posts: 2529
Location: formerly NY currently NC
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| Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: 79 Ball Joint Replacement |
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| yes always sliced the edges off the ball joint carefully with a cut off wheel...then you could catch the 2 sides of the arm on the 2 steel blocks that went across the hydraulic press |
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