mk1-forum.net

Anyone got any tricks for removing a stuck ball joint?

So far I’ve broken two splitters, tried heat, plusgas, shocking it and leaving it over night with the splitter on. Still won’t budge.

You've obviously been trying hard !

I use a long bar wedged between the top or bottom arm (which ever ball joint your breaking) and the subframe.

I get some weight on the bar - either the cars weight, or me & the little lady, AND smack both sides of the arm with 2 hammers at the same time.

The idea being the shock on both sides makes the tapered hole in the arm go slightly oval (for a milli-second) and the tension on the long lever makes it jump off the taper.

Thanks will give the double tap method a try.

If all you have tried did not work, consider using a pickle fork on an air hammer. (The picture below is not mine. I just "borrowed" it from the web).

Thanks both

Double tap didn’t work. Sheared the pin in a new splitter, replaced with a bolt, sheared that, replaced with another bolt and it finally popped. No sign of rust either very weird.

As a matter of interest were you using a pinch type splitter or a fork type?

I have never failed using a pinch type in a windy gun.

Yep, just like in the photo.

First go using an impact gun just like you broke the fork bit off the end. Next one broke the arm. Stopped using the gun after that!

With the "pinch type" I have always had success by tightening the bolt a lot, then striking the head of the bolt with a hammer to shock the parts apart.

I have heard of others who damaged their splitters by tightening alone without the hammer blows.

Did you try heating the suspension arm up around the pin?

Yep, heat with a torch and hitting it. It’s not a car I’ve worked on before maybe the previous person just did it up ridiculously tight.