122 replies to this topic

[johnv]

But if/when you have to split the hub with these installed and only a tuning fork ball joint splitter will do the job the rubbers will split and ruin them?

[GraemeC]

Buy a better tool - after splashing out on these ball joints it would be a small extra investment!

[johnv]

Buy a better tool - after splashing out on these ball joints it would be a small extra investment!

I think I've got/tried pretty much all of them Graeme, sometimes the only think that works is a fork and lump hammer

[paulrockliffe]

I've never had an issue splitting them with the non-fork splitters, sometimes you have to leave them a few minutes and BANG! But otherwise, they always seem to get enough force in for me.  Can't see them ever jamming so tight that a mix of the right splitter a bit of heat and a few taps on the side of the arm isn't going to shift them.  If so, I guess you need new rubbers, which might be a pain if they're in Japan, but delivery didn't take all that long.

[johnv]

No problem if you can get new rubbers but they didn't look replaceable to me

[fokko]

I did use a socket on these for many years, but a little while back, went to an Open Ended - Ring Spanner and I find that a much better tool to use, though, you need to make your best guess on the Torque.

 

Torque on the Maintenance Free types is 60 - 70 ft / lb.

I have these maintenance free ball joints and I have a 1.5" socket, but that doesn't fit! It used to fit with regular ball joints. I'm thinking about ordering a regular open ended spanner of 1.5", also because the locktab is in the way... Below pictures explain the situation hopefully.

 

The blue ring causes the socket to not fit:

 

 20200902_101122625_iOS.jpg   38.79K   1 downloads

 

 20200902_101141914_iOS.jpg   47.18K   1 downloads

 

How to reach for the ball joint to torque it up when the locktab is in the way?

 

 20200902_101207002_iOS.jpg   32.72K   3 downloads

[johnR]

bend the locktab down a little to clear

[fokko]

bend the locktab down a little to clear

Agreed, but it's a shame to have to do that with a brand new item. Would have been better if the socket would fit. My experience is that you'll be able to torque up without bending down the locktab.

[paulrockliffe]

Just what I need when I've just ordered the socket!  I'd be surprised if a spanner doesn't fit on though, looks like there's plenty of room to me.

[paulrockliffe]

Wonder if I can just pop the blue spring off?

[fokko]

Just what I need when I've just ordered the socket!  I'd be surprised if a spanner doesn't fit on though, looks like there's plenty of room to me.

I'm sorry, I saw your post and figured it would be good to step in, better late than never... Maybe your socket will work, I don't know. Removing the blue spring from a new and expensive ball joint is not very tempting I must say ...

[Tornado99]

If using an open end spanner/wrench, you can get a decent torque near enough by first practicing with a double nut using a bench vice and your existing torque wrench....hold one end of double nut with the torque wrench, other with the open end and learn what the 60-70 ft-lbs feels like. Repeat on the ball joint. 

 

There are also tricks like taking an open end or combo open end/closed end spanner and using a suitable nut on the other end to then connect the torque wrench to. If you keep it at 90 degrees to the ball joint then the length of the spanner does not change the effective torque at the torque wrench end. Here's a snazzy Motion Pro tool for this:

 

https://www.motionpr...dapter-08-0380/

[GraemeC]

A 1.5" AF crows foot with a torque wrench would be a neat solution, but probably about £60.

The advantage is you could also use it with a breaker bar to undo ball joints in situ, and the flywheel bolt too.

[Pete649]

A 1.5" AF crows foot with a torque wrench would be a neat solution, but probably about £60.

 

You can get a crows foot on eBay (new) for around the £20 - £25 mark.

Edited by Pete649, 02 September 2020 - 05:47 PM.

[GraemeC]

Edited by GraemeC, 02 September 2020 - 07:22 PM.