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72VWSB
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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 Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 3:16 pm Post subject: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Replacing front end parts on my 72 SB. I am replacing struts and ball joints. The left ball joint came out very easily but the right one isn't! Do you use a ball joint removal fork or is there a better tool for the lower ball joint?
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72 VW Super Beetle |
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Hatracks
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2016
Posts: 678
Location: Renton, WA
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rayjay
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2008
Posts: 1650
Location: Buford GA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Harbor Freight has the same tool if the op has one close by. I bought one last week and it works great on a std beetle ball joints and tierod ends. |
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72VWSB
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Thanks guys...we have a harbor freight in town, get one tomorrow...thanks again!
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72 VW Super Beetle |
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infiniteLoop
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Joined: October 09, 2020
Posts: 265
Location: Empire State
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| A two arm puller should do the same thing. You could try putting the nut on until it is flush with the stud and smack it with a hammer. |
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rayjay
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Joined: March 26, 2008
Posts: 1650
Location: Buford GA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| Don't just keep cranking on the bolt until you break the tool. If it doesn't pop loose with a good amount of torque applied to the bolt then start tapping on the control arm boss with a hammer so you induce some vibration which will help the taper pop out. |
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72VWSB
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Thanks for all the advise...
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72VWSB
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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I am happy to say, I was able to get the ball joint out with a ball joint removal tool I borrowed at Autobone...all the struts are installed including my steering damper. The car drives much nicer now. I used to have a bit of a wheel shake when hitting bumps, now everything is nice and smooth!
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halfassleatherworks
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Joined: December 09, 2018
Posts: 810
Location: Reno NV
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| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| now get a alinement done |
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72VWSB
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Curious...why would I need to do another alignment after changing the front struts?
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72VWSB
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:01 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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And while I'm at it...it appears my front end is a bit higher than it was before the front strut replacement...and I have never changed the rear shocks. If I replace the rear shocks, would that bump up my rear end a little bit to even it out??
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infiniteLoop
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2020
Posts: 265
Location: Empire State
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| 72VWSB wrote: |
| And while I'm at it...it appears my front end is a bit higher than it was before the front strut replacement.. |
Replacement struts are gas charged or old struts were binding?
1302s have the camber adjustment on the inside of the control arm.
Last edited by infiniteLoop on Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:50 am; edited 2 times in total |
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72VWSB
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Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| infiniteLoop wrote: |
| 72VWSB wrote: |
| And while I'm at it...it appears my front end is a bit higher than it was before the front strut replacement.. |
Replacement struts are gas charged or old struts were binding?
1302s have the camber adjustment on the inside of the control arm. |
Not sure what you mean...the original struts were leaking...the new ones I got as a kit from Jbugs...doesn't say if they are gas filled or not...
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infiniteLoop
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Joined: October 09, 2020
Posts: 265
Location: Empire State
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| Struts can get worn so severely that they will actually bind in their travel. Maybe you could compare the strut mounts for height if they were replaced. Ball joints could actually bind and limit travel but if the car steers fine that would be ruled out. |
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Cusser
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Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33383
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| 72VWSB wrote: |
| And while I'm at it...it appears my front end is a bit higher than it was before the front strut replacement...and I have never changed the rear shocks. If I replace the rear shocks, would that bump up my rear end a little bit to even it out?? |
I had a sagging rear end too (on my '71 Super Convertible, not my own pristine rear end !!!) and I have used Gabriel Hi-Jacker rear shocks for about 15 years now; I can add air to raise rear end, or remove air to lower the rear.
Moderators would object if I posted a photo of my own rear end....
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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72VWSB
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Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| 72VWSB wrote: |
| And while I'm at it...it appears my front end is a bit higher than it was before the front strut replacement...and I have never changed the rear shocks. If I replace the rear shocks, would that bump up my rear end a little bit to even it out?? |
I had a sagging rear end too (on my '71 Super Convertible, not my own pristine rear end !!!) and I have used Gabriel Hi-Jacker rear shocks for about 15 years now; I can add air to raise rear end, or remove air to lower the rear.
Moderators would object if I posted a photo of my own rear end.... |
I was amused that you had to be specific which rear end you were talking about!  I read some comments on Jbugs where the coil overs are a little rough...but you like the Gabriel Hi-Jackers? They're not too rough? Where do you put your air inlet? Not sure where to look for a set that will fit!?
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Hatracks
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2016
Posts: 678
Location: Renton, WA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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check the rear bushings if see if C is crushed:
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72VWSB
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Joined: August 06, 2018
Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Sooo...one needs to have front end realigned after replacing front struts and lower ball joints?
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Hatracks
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Location: Renton, WA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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| 72VWSB wrote: |
| Sooo...one needs to have front end realigned after replacing front struts and lower ball joints? |
I do anytime i mess with the front end especially after changing ride height. It is cheap insurance.
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72VWSB
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Posts: 722
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 8:01 am Post subject: Re: Ball joint on 72 Super Beetle...no come out! |
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Thought I'd post an update. After my ball joint/front struts/steering damper replacement, I noticed a slight steering wheel shake at about 40mph. It smooths out past this speed. I have an appointment to get the front end re-aligned and a friend of mine told me to check the front bearings. I had replaced the front disc brakes with disc brakes a few months ago using all new bearings. Well, the left front was ok but the right one was loose! I had to tighten the locknut about 1/4 turn. It did not however fix the slight steering wheel shake but hopefully after I have it aligned and the front wheels checked for balance, I should be good to go... It did not have this shake at all before the strut replacement...
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