Ball Joints

Wayne S · Postby **Wayne S** » 22 Sep 2009 00:23

Has anyone ever replaced their bottom ball joints with the lower track arm still on the car? What sort of tools do you use to press them out and fit the new?

2.0 Litre DHC Grinnall
Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)

jclay (RIP 2018) · Postby **jclay (RIP 2018)** » 22 Sep 2009 00:26

No, I haven't but Beans has a tool to do the job.

jclay

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Technical/Intro.html"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/FileSharing.woa/53/wo/HJMTK8gsojtwKleP.1/0.2.1.2.26.31.97.0.35.0.1.1.1?user=jclaythompson&fpath=Triumph_Articles&templatefn=FileSharing4.html"]Download Page[/url]

Marko · Postby **Marko** » 22 Sep 2009 14:15

hmmm

it depends on when where they last replaced.

i managed to press mine out on a hydraulic press , the gauge read 5 tonnes of force at the moment the balljoint started to move.

that kind of force is very difficult to achieve by screw type mechanism.

its not that hard to remove the lower track arm, with a ball joint spreader tool.

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 22 Sep 2009 16:12

... or one of these ...

1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</center>

Wayne S · Postby **Wayne S** » 22 Sep 2009 17:30

Thanks guys, but I mean to actually remove the balljoint from the track arm itself and press in a new one rather than have to replace the whole arm each time.

Like this tool does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP2p--b9KGI

Removing the strut with a long handles splitter is easy enough.

I've looked in a number of tool catalogues and the presses for balljoints even the C clamp type ones are quite expensive so I guess its as cost effective to just replace the whole arm anyway unless I can get a local engineer to help for cheaper.

2.0 Litre DHC Grinnall
Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)

tr7jim · Postby **tr7jim** » 22 Sep 2009 18:33

Wayne,

The only way I think is to remove the complete suspension arm and get the bottom ball joint pressed out by your local garage and new one fitted.

My local garage didn't charge much to do for me.

Jim

Jolyon39 · Postby **Jolyon39** » 22 Sep 2009 20:10

You do not have to buy a whole new arm!

I took my arm off the car and took it down to the local suspension shop. These are common here and do suspension (shocks, bushes, boots and mods), brakes and some do exhausts as well.

For 20 they pressed out the old bushes, pressed out the ball joints and presed in the new bush. I then sanded and painted the arm and am about to fit it next week. They had trouble with the ball joint due to rust.... surprise surprise.

I would not buy a whole new arm however I would pick up a cheap second hand one that I could rebuild first and just swap in one day.

Jolyon

moestr7v8 · Postby **moestr7v8** » 22 Sep 2009 23:33

Hi Wayne I managed to get a pair of secondhand arms as well, had the ball joints put in by a local garage and they only charged me a fiver, and then cleaned the arms up and painted them prior to fitting them.
I tried getting them out myself and after much sweating and a few swear words, the other way is a lot easier beleive me ha ha.
I still have the original arms,complete with ball joints in the shed just to remind me what a b*****d job looks like ha ha [8D][}:)]
Regards
Moe

nick · Postby **nick** » 23 Sep 2009 00:30

I took mine to a machine shop and the mech said he couldn't believe how much pressure it took to press them out and in.

nick

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 23 Sep 2009 02:06

Popped the ball joint off with pickle fork, took the arm in to get old ball joints pressed out and new ball joints pressed in. Went easy enough the mechanic said (for $45.00, they want real money here to do work so I do my own except when special equipment is needed.)

Easy off, easy on, just the pressing needed doing. Just a word of warning. The mechanic mentioned the other end was worn oblong. Used them anyways till I got another set. They were same way. I measured the hole and it was round. The apparent wear was optical illusion.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

Rich in Vancouver · Postby **Rich in Vancouver** » 23 Sep 2009 03:34

Merv,
I am looking for a pair of lower arms. Would you care to sell your extra pair?
Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

Wayne S · Postby **Wayne S** » 23 Sep 2009 08:29

Thanks everyone, its as I suspected then [:D]

I can't believe they have worn so fast, been on 18 months and I was shocked to find when I took the struts off to solve a much more complex problem (thats another story) that the ball joints are shot already!

Since the poly bushes are of a similar age I didn't really want to replce the arm again so popping out the ball joint myself seemed the best idea.

Anyway, off on a search for someone locally with a press [8D]

2.0 Litre DHC Grinnall
Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)

Jolyon39 · Postby **Jolyon39** » 23 Sep 2009 20:37

I have one other piece of information.

Years ago I was taught how to release a Ball Joint from the strut leg by an old fella. It is very quick and requires no complicated tools.

First release the nut on the ball joint but do not take it off.
Next take two hammers, and strike the collar the ball joint is protruding through, simultaneously and on opposite sides.
A couple of well placed hits will just distort the collar a fraction to release the friction fit and it is all over, out it comes.

This method is fast, easy and makes the job just another service item, not a mission like the fuel tank or similar.

Hope this helps.

(I now expect someone to tell me that this will wreck something but it never has on the various cars I have worked on including modern rice burners)

Jolyon

Shauniedawn · Postby **Shauniedawn** » 23 Sep 2009 20:56

Hiya.

You really don't need to use a hydraulic press to get the ball joints out. It is very easily achieved in a decent vice. Or with a few heavy and aligned hammer blows. Likewise the refitting of the new ones is equally straightforward. It's all about keeping the job and the applied pressure square.

Using a press makes aligning the spacers for pressing it in/out a bit easier, but that's all. Next time I do some I'll take some photo's.

Shaun.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12691409@N08/

busheytrader · Postby **busheytrader** » 23 Sep 2009 23:42

There's always this option from Robsport.

TR7 PARTS (SUSPENSION)

Condition: New
Description: Track control arm recon - fitted new ball joint and polyurethane inner bush, bolt & nut - exchange
Part No: TKC878RP/879RP
Price: Â£37.50

Adam

TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & PolyBushes, Anti- Dive, Capri Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

Anonymous

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