changing a ball joint for dummies

[alwayslearning]

Fancy tackling changing the ball joints bushes on the suspension on my John deere gator.
Can do brakes small service already just want to take the next step.
Any fancy tools I will need?

 

[mushnt grummmble]

Ball joint splitter
Just remember to measure the length of them if they are threaded so you can refit the same

 

[Dman2]

big hammer

 

[sawdust]

big hammer

x2

 

[AJR75]

Are they the tapered type joints? If using a big hammer hit the housing to split the joint. Have used a bar for a bit of leverage in the past while smacking it. Bought a proper splitter for not much money, makes the job a whole lot easier.

 

[tomlad]

One thing i do honestly struggle with

Do most splitters damage the rubber

 

[wr.]

Bar & wallop method works 99% of the time.

 

[Maico490]

Having always got away with the bar and hammer trick I bought one of these for hard to get at joints on our car:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cht...2PDuBk4bNjW9nOoMAyk6pD6XChNNhrK8aAunZEALw_wcB

Absolutely marvellous bit of kit and doesn't damage the rubbers like the drive in wedge type which are only any good if you replacing the joint.

 

[tomlad]

So bars prying apart
Whack on female bit 90* to the thread
Not on the thread

 

[sawdust]

One thing i do honestly struggle with

Do most splitters damage the rubber

So bars prying apart
Whack on female bit 90* to the thread
Not on the thread

Hold 1 hammer against female part and hit other side of female part with second hammer, ball joint will just pop out

 

[Maico490]

Hold 1 hammer against female part and hit other side of female part with second hammer, ball joint will just pop out

But how about when you can only get a few inches of hammer movement?
Tempt it apart with some mistletoe maybe.

 

[sawdust]

But how about when you can only get a few inches of hammer movement?
Tempt it apart with some mistletoe maybe.

So how are you able to strike a ball joint splitter then???

 

[milkloss]

So how are you able to strike a ball joint splitter then???

Poke this in the gap

Smack the handle with hammer, loads of swing because it’s long and pokey

 

[sawdust]

Poke this in the gap

Smack the handle with hammer, loads of swing because it’s long and pokey

I've never been beat yet with 2 hammers

 

[milkloss]

I've never been beat yet with 2 hammers

Nor me. Usually I just tap round it with one hammer and then tap the bottom of the joint and it pops out easy.

Those splitters are actually more handy for other jobs

 

[Dry Rot]

Poke this in the gap

Smack the handle with hammer, loads of swing because it’s long and pokey

Got one of those and think I've used it two or three times to separate a ball joint. On the other hand, it has found dozens of other uses! Quite a handy tool to have.

 

[alwayslearning]

Cheers everyone will have a bash tommorow.
Jacked it up and it's the bearing that has gone not ball joint so will try take hub of and drop it into garage to get new bearing pressed in.
Will try hammers 1st

 

[Maico490]

So how are you able to strike a ball joint splitter then???

You don't hit this:

 

[sawdust]

You don't hit this:
View attachment 662970

But that's only a 1 trick pony,

a man can never have too many hammers

 

[mushnt grummmble]

But that's only a 1 trick pony,

a man can never have too many hammers