Monday, September 29, 2008 - 04:35 pm, by: Matthew Standage(Matstandage)
Guys i am having a huge drama changing my bushes due to not being able to get the ball joints to come apart i have one of those fork style splitters and as i don't want to wreck anything i'm wondering how it's done?do you just hammer the fork between the ball joint to split it and should the car be jacked up if what is the correct way of jacking it up?
Monday, September 29, 2008 - 04:38 pm, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
The correct tool presses on the joint shaft and pushes it down and out of the arm.
I have used a hammer only and also a pickle fork with hammer with no problems.
If you are using the fork them I normally grease the side that is going against the joint boot to prevent the boot from tearing and then I gently tap it in until it's in and the slack taken up before I beat it.
Monday, September 29, 2008 - 06:32 pm, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
You want to disconnect the shock but leave the arm bolted to the chassis. I undo the balljoint nut as bar as I can but leave it on the joint that way if you slip with the hammer it won't kil the thread.
If you don't disconnect the sway bar it will put pressure on the arm so either jack both sides up and remove the wheels or undo the swaybar endlink.
Be careful if you undo the endlink that it doesn't break the tab that prevents the bolt from rotating.
If you aren't sure about jacking the car then you might want to consider doing the arms. A press will be needed at a minimum to rebush the arms.
Monday, September 29, 2008 - 11:00 pm, by: Matthew Standage(Matstandage)
i know how to jack up the car i meant both sides at the same time or just one side as most people use a hoist.I just want to know whats the better way to split the joint belt the thread (and nut)with a hammer or hammer the fork into the ball joint?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 03:00 am, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
Easiest is to have both sides jacked up with the wheels off.
Do not hit the joint with a hammer! Definitely hammer the fork inwards making sure there is enough clearance for the fork to go through and come out the other side.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 08:31 am, by: Matthew Standage(Matstandage)
thanks a lot i'll try that thats how i thought it must be done but you see and hear so many different ways that it gets confusing and smashing at parts of my suspension with a large hammer always makes me nervous