47 replies to this topic

[stevelane]

I'm trying to remove the upper ball joint on the passenger side and I've had difficulty with this one before.

In the past I was advised to remove the lower one as well and let the extra weight help the job along but even this isn't working.

I have been bashing away with a fork type splitter and have bent two other scissor types.

The two hammer trick also hasn't worked.

Any advice?

[minimender]

Have you tried heat as well

[ANON]

stop hitting it like a girl.

[stevelane]

Have you tried heat as well

Not yet, was hoping it was a last option as I want to get it back together as quick as poss and don't have a spare rubber cover. Was seeing if there was anything else first

[stevelane]

stop hitting it like a girl.

Lol, how did you know??

Seriously though, the prongs on the fork splitter are taking a battering but no movement

[minimender]

Piece of 4x4 under the arm holding the weight of the car and batter it from the top

[stevelane]

Piece of 4x4 under the arm holding the weight of the car and batter it from the top

And it will still be useable after?

[minimender]

 

Piece of 4x4 under the arm holding the weight of the car and batter it from the top

And it will still be useable after?

 

No, thought you were changing it, they are only cheap

[Tomm]

I had a pair of super stubourn ones on the Mk2 when I broke the front end down, if I remember correctly it was the top arms.

I was hitting the side of the arm to release the joint, no luck, splitter fork, no luck, scissor splitter no luck.

I then got hacked off with it and a combination of the fork, a blow tortch and smashing like a looney they popped straight off, the second one then came straight off.

I would soak it up with some decent penetrating oil over night, and then get out there the day after and give it some heat, then smash it like you're trying to bend it and you should have some success.

Another way I've done it in the past is using a large carver clamp inverted and pulling outwards. You have to push against the driveshaft though and it's a bit fiddly. Just donk it.

[stevelane]

 

Piece of 4x4 under the arm holding the weight of the car and batter it from the top

And it will still be useable after?
 

No, thought you were changing it, they are only cheap

No I'm not changing it, I'm trying to get the drive shafts out. If it comes to it I will smash it and get a new one but just up against a time limit so was looking for any ideas to get it out undamaged

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

http://sykes-pickava...int-removal/396
You need a good quality scissor type like a sykes pickavant and a heavy hammer.buy cheap buy twice!

Edited by HUBBA.HUBBA, 06 July 2014 - 08:33 PM.

[minimender]

Take the bottom one off instead

[stevelane]

Take the bottom one off instead

I have, but it doesn't seem to give enough movement to pull the driveshaft out of the point joint that I need

[ANON]

 

stop hitting it like a girl.

Lol, how did you know??

Seriously though, the prongs on the fork splitter are taking a battering but no movement

 

 

 

unless your splitter is made of chocolate then it's just a case of hit it harder.

 

what hammer you using?

[dklawson]

You said the scissor type splitter did not work.  For the most effect, loosen the joint's nut but leave the nut on the stud to protect the threads.  Put put a piece of scrap metal on top of the nut so the scissor jaws are parallel or close to parallel.  Tighten the scissor's screw ridiculously tight.  When you feel like it is going to break... take a hammer and strike a blow on the top of the scissor jaws (not on the screw).  This will introduce a mighty shock while the joint is under pressure.  Sometimes the scissors will work without the hammer blow, other times it is the only way to get a joint to pop apart.

 

If that fails to work, leave the scissors on the joint (fully tightened) and add heat .  While adding heat, tap the scissors where you did while things were cold.  A series of lesser taps with the heat should pop the joint free.

 

Strike at the red arrow in the picture linked below.  (Sorry, I found the pic on the web and it is an attachment on another forum... not a direct picture link).

http://www.bimmerfes...=1&d=1306404981

Edited by dklawson, 06 July 2014 - 11:57 PM.