24 replies to this topic

[dennismini93]

i fitted new ball joints to my car and the old ones were a @#~'er to split. they all went on nicely but now i need to take the hub off again to get my new engine in and i just cant split the top ball joint on either side. i managed to get the engine out by pulling the shaft (still in the hub) out as it went up but its soo hard as your fighting the cone. i cant try that again to get the engine in as it was just stupid. any ideas what to do???? also the joint bent the tuning fork open its that tight

[Ethel]

Scissor type splitters are better.

[dennismini93]

Scissor type splitters are better.

the one with the bolt?

[Archived4]

Yes. They don't chew the rubber boot like the scissor types do

[dennismini93]

iv lost my one of them lol will have to go hunting

[Vipernoir]

Over the years I've had many different balljoint splitters, and encountered some very very tight ones which needed an extra effort to get undone.

 

The Pickle/Tuning fork type are utter rubbish - if they're strong enough to pop the joint they will destroy the boot, and generally they just splay outwards.
Cheap scissor types tend to snap or strip the thread when applied to a tight joint.

 

I'm currently using a very nice set of Sykes Pickavant splitters (which are adjustible for different applications) and they are the only ones that I haven't broken !
 

[Craig89]

Scissors splitters have never failed me, any really tight ones I just apply some pressure with the splitter then put some heat into the joint with a blow torch.

[dklawson]

This is another vote for scissor type splitters.  However, I don't use heat.  I tighten them up until they feel ridiculously tight, then I take a brass hammer and strike the head of their tensioning bolt like it was a nail.  The shock from the hammer blow in addition to the applied force easily unseats the tapered pin every time.  

[Craig89]

^ that is another good methed, be warned when the ball joints go they go with one hell of a bang and the splitter will normally fly off

[stickycreambun]

^ literally had to do just that yesterday, no heat just tightytight then bang bang bang with copper hammer...eventually popped off with a bang. Same as the clutch bolt! 

[dennismini93]

yeah i thank you everone, iv never had too much of a problem before but might invest in a scissor one now :) so annoying becuse iv had them off a few weeks ago but didnt think id have to swap my engine

[Dusky]

Do you mind buying new balljoint or not? Just had the same problem today.. SOmetimes you can unscrew the balljoin though.. So unscrew it where it meets the wheel, but you will need a good plier

Buying new balljoints today, I always seem to break them when getting them out... the thread is always damaged xd

Edited by Dusky, 29 December 2013 - 06:27 PM.

[dennismini93]

Do you mind buying new balljoint or not? Just had the same problem today.. SOmetimes you can unscrew the balljoin though.. So unscrew it where it meets the wheel, but you will need a good plier

Buying new balljoints today, I always seem to break them when getting them out... the thread is always damaged xd

i did that the last time, need a bigger spanner tho, last time it was loose. they are new so dont really want to cut them but might have to in the end if the scissor thing doesnt do it

[Dusky]

 

Do you mind buying new balljoint or not? Just had the same problem today.. SOmetimes you can unscrew the balljoin though.. So unscrew it where it meets the wheel, but you will need a good plier

Buying new balljoints today, I always seem to break them when getting them out... the thread is always damaged xd

i did that the last time, need a bigger spanner tho, last time it was loose. they are new so dont really want to cut them but might have to in the end if the scissor thing doesnt do it

 

something like this works very good, don't know the name in english.. In belgium they call it a 'vise grip' ( google translate says ' locking pliers')

 

I had to cut mine too, changed theml in august, haven't drove the mini since then due to the paintjob etc

[dklawson]

I believe the U.K. term for the tool shown above is/are "mole grips".  

 

How/where would you use mole grips when removing ball joints?  If you cut anything there will still be a tapered pin in the suspension arms and that still has to come out.