Member Since: 02 Sep 2012
Location: Old Windsor
Posts: 403
Fr arm Balljoint separation (trouble with)
OK, I've soaked it in WD40 and tried to separate it... but it wont budge...
How hard can I hit it and which bits can I hit? The hub carrier?
Failing that... what are peoples view of pickle fork vs a ball joint splitter of some form?
I don't have an inductive heater but do have a gas torch... (obviously watching out for the WD catching) So is it heat the threaded bit of the ball joint, the carrier or both?
mjcp 03/2007 D3 HSE
98 Audi A4 Avant 2.5 TDi Quattro
Gone but not forgotten
03/2003 330Ci Convertible
93 Corrado 2.0l 16V
98 M3 Evo Cab
12th May 2016 10:21 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20808
Member Since: 17 Aug 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1918
Pickle fork is fine if you are replacing it as they often ruin the boot. A well placed blow from a big hammer works but there is a knack to it. Ideally a balljoint separator, they don't cost much and the stress they save is amazing.IID PRO
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Nanocom One
12th May 2016 10:30 pm
Sydney
Member Since: 11 Aug 2013
Location: St Neots
Posts: 903
Other option is get a jack to put pressure on the bottom of the joint and then, as Mikey said, big hammer!!!De-Tango
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12th May 2016 10:56 pm
epninety
Member Since: 12 Oct 2012
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 329
If you go shopping for new tools, it might be a good idea to take the new balljoint with you to check the size.
My 'old faithfull' splitter wouldn't fit over the balljoint (not enough reach) and I broke my biggest pickle fork (not wide enough in the gap between the tines).
It never even occurred to me the ones I've been using on land rovers for 20 years wouldn't be big enough, until I already had the wheels in the air.
12th May 2016 11:03 pm
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
I find the best technique for dealing with a stubborn tapered joint is to apply as much tension as you feel comfortable with using the ball joint splitter and then if this has not shifted it leave it under tension and hit the side of the casting that the taper passes through, hard, with a heavy hammer.
It is also good practice to leave the original nut at the top of the thread when splitting tapered joints as this helps to limit how far things fly when the tension is eventually released.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
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12th May 2016 11:46 pm
Disco Devil
Member Since: 12 Oct 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 51
see if you can beg or borrow an air hammer/air chisel or even a Hilti gun.
My air hammer separated the ball joint in literally half a second. I had the same problem in that my seperator wouldn't fit even after "modifying" with a tungsten burr.
13th May 2016 12:42 am
mjcp
Member Since: 02 Sep 2012
Location: Old Windsor
Posts: 403
Thank you all...
I shall see what my local factors has re very large splitters within a budget... and large forks...
And then I shall use more force with Special tool No 1 as well
mjcp03/2007 D3 HSE
98 Audi A4 Avant 2.5 TDi Quattro
Gone but not forgotten
03/2003 330Ci Convertible
93 Corrado 2.0l 16V
98 M3 Evo Cab
13th May 2016 10:28 am
aljo
Member Since: 20 May 2007
Location: west sussex
Posts: 804
I'm in windsor this weekend and I've got the proper hydraulic separator for the ball joint
If that's any good to you let me know only takes 5 mins Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where,s the f**king ceiling!!
13th May 2016 10:50 am
mjcp
Member Since: 02 Sep 2012
Location: Old Windsor
Posts: 403
aljo.. That would be great if you could...
When are you around, when's convenient?
mjcp03/2007 D3 HSE
98 Audi A4 Avant 2.5 TDi Quattro
Gone but not forgotten
03/2003 330Ci Convertible
93 Corrado 2.0l 16V
98 M3 Evo Cab
13th May 2016 10:08 pm
aljo
Member Since: 20 May 2007
Location: west sussex
Posts: 804
PM sent Marc Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where,s the f**king ceiling!!
13th May 2016 11:33 pm
mjcp
Member Since: 02 Sep 2012
Location: Old Windsor
Posts: 403
BIG thank-you to aljo!
His hydraulic splitter did the job, took the hub carrier off (with lower arm attached!) put under pressure and nothing... 20 odd tonnes pressure.. it wasn't budging... then a little tap as we rolled it over and it was free!
All good and back together, alignment done. Just need the re-test on monday
mjcp03/2007 D3 HSE
98 Audi A4 Avant 2.5 TDi Quattro
Gone but not forgotten
03/2003 330Ci Convertible
93 Corrado 2.0l 16V
98 M3 Evo Cab
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