Well after a long time, I finally gave up and removed the hub. I'm still having an extremely difficult time removing the ball joint so I may take it to a local mechanic and see if they can use an impact wrench to get it off. The one problem I have now is some grit has gotten into the bearings. Will I need to remove the bearings, clean them and reinstall them or is it possible to clean them inside the hub? Nothing is ever as easy as it should be...
-Mike
Can't Remove Ball Joint
Started by
UBSTANKN
, Aug 06 2012 03:34 AM
35 replies to this topic
#32
dklawson
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Moved Into The Garage
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Posted 16 August 2012 - 01:48 AM
If you have the hub off the car, find a piece of thick scrap metal and bolt it to the hub using the brake caliper holes. Hold the scrap metal in the vice. You will then be able to put some muscle on the ball joint domed nuts to get them off. You need to do this anyway because you are going to have to put a lot of torque on the ball joint nuts when you refit them.
You really need to take the hub all the way apart to clean and repack the bearings. The hardest part for you will be removing the seals without damaging them. Since the car doesn't appear to be a daily driver for you, you will find it easier to buy new seals rather than trying to not destroy the old seals when removing them.
You really need to take the hub all the way apart to clean and repack the bearings. The hardest part for you will be removing the seals without damaging them. Since the car doesn't appear to be a daily driver for you, you will find it easier to buy new seals rather than trying to not destroy the old seals when removing them.
#33
UBSTANKN
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Mini Mad
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Posted 16 August 2012 - 01:56 AM
Ugh. I wish I had a better garage to do all this work in. The hub keeps twisting in the vise. I'm concerned that I'm going to damage it if I clamp it in too tight. I might be better off drilling some holes in a piece of wood, mounting it between 2 studs in the garage and bolting the hub to the wood using the caliper holes.
I was hoping I wouldn't need to pull apart the hub. I'm willing to give it a shot. Is it safe to rinse off the bearings before I repack them? I really don't want to buy a whole new bearing kit.
-Mike
I was hoping I wouldn't need to pull apart the hub. I'm willing to give it a shot. Is it safe to rinse off the bearings before I repack them? I really don't want to buy a whole new bearing kit.
-Mike
#34
dklawson
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Posted 16 August 2012 - 02:05 AM
Umm that's what I suggested. Try a 2x4 if that is all you have but you should be able to find some scrap metal or even buy some steel at the home center that you could use to hold the caliper in the vice.
#35
UBSTANKN
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Mini Mad
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Posted 16 August 2012 - 02:09 AM
Umm that's what I suggested. Try a 2x4 if that is all you have but you should be able to find some scrap metal or even buy some steel at the home center that you could use to hold the caliper in the vice.
I was taking your suggestion but thinking of skipping the Vise altogether and just bolting a piece of wood to the wall. But it's certainly a suggestion worth trying!
-Mike
#36
dklawson
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Posted 16 August 2012 - 02:30 AM
To get the domed nut tight you have to apply 80 ft-lb of torque. If you try to do this with a wooden support, use hardwood (oak should be at the home center), not a 2x4 which are made from pine. Cut away the wood as necessary to get as much material around the hub as possible. Use big, heavy washers of fender washers to spread the load out when you tighten the hub to the hardwood. I'm sure you'll find a way to make this work.
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