OCUK Motors - Does anyone have a ball-joint press?

Malt_Vinegar

Malt_Vinegar

Malt_Vinegar

Don
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20 Oct 2002
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I am in the middle of replacing the upper ball joints on my prelude's front suspension.

I have managed to get the old joint separated on one side with a standard fork type separator. However, when trying to remove the "press in" ball joint from the arm, it seems to be giving me a bit of grief.

The hammer has not moved it a bit, and WD-40 is not making any inroads. I don't have access to heat to warm up the arm, and I dont really want to buy a ball joint press for this one job!

So, does anyone have a tool they would be willing to lend me for a weekend, so I can get this sorted? Or perhaps some amazing idea to remove the ball joint?

Cheers!
 
neil-ste said:
Can you not get it in a vice with a large socket over the rear side of the ball joint?
Click to expand...

Well, it would mean taking off the arms, which is a little difficult to do, without tearing down the rest of the suspension.

Getting at the bolts is a bit of a mission.

Although, that has given me an idea, I do have some G-clamps, just need a socet big enough to go around the back of the joint :D
 
Should be fairly simple to remove the arm on a Lude - three nuts on top of the damper in the engine bay and that should allow the suspension to drop down far enough so you can get the upper wishbone out? Otherwise remove the damper entirely, should just be one bolt into the lower control arm?

Would be much easier to complete the job in a vice (or a press). Just don't do what I did :D
 
I was just going to use the bolt to pull the new onto the hole :p

If i undo the top mount on the damper, will the spring ping off, and kill me? I know the arm is already loose, but will it be enough?

Also, will I need sping compressors to put the springs back in?
 
Ok, seems I have mis-understood how my suspension works :p

So, i just undo the top bolts on the suspension turret, and drop it out of the way?

Sounds too easy. lol
 
Yeah pretty much, the lower control arm may not have enough give to get the strut out of the wheel arch, but it should be enough to remove the top arm :)
 
Shad/Malt... you know you guys are only a mile or so apart right? ;)
With shad's previous vice incident.... not sure he's the right guy for the job.. but might be able to help.
 
CocoPops said:
Shad/Malt... you know you guys are only a mile or so apart right? ;)
With shad's previous vice incident.... not sure he's the right guy for the job.. but might be able to help.
Click to expand...

I did not know that!

What as the previous vice incident?

I removed the top bolts from the shock, but there is not enough movement to get it even close to the arm to remove it. to allow access to the arm bolts.

Gah, this is doing my nut in :(
 
Well, I managed it :D

Had to remove the arm, and did this by undoing the top and bottom bolts on the shock to allow access to the bolts.

Then started to press with the vice, Once it was slightly out, i whacked it with a hammer, and it flew out. Cleaned up the hole, added a bit of grease. Fitted new joint with hammer.

Just got to put the arm back on now!! (then do the other side!)
 
CocoPops said:
Shad/Malt... you know you guys are only a mile or so apart right? ;)
With shad's previous vice incident.... not sure he's the right guy for the job.. but might be able to help.
Click to expand...

Had no idea - can't help it when people don't include their location in their profile ;)

We have a nice new vice now by the way. Big, No Swearing! off huge one, even rotates through 360 degrees, it's bloody brilliant :D

Malt, let me know if you need a hand at any point, have a good working knowledge of Honda vehicles in particular.
 
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