Ball Joint Removal Tool

[lazyduck15]

Hello everyone!

Some wisdom required. I am about to purchase a ball joint removal tool from the UK. Would you please advise me over the best model to grab, considering major use on Renault 4 and so for?. I have seen a couple models that blink to my eye on E Bay: Sealey AK381 (12.50) and Cup Style (8.50) Sorry, I wasn't able to attach a picture of them.

 

[Azazello]

My mechanic used the first one you link, he says it's the only that works well. I have no experience with other tools of that kind.
Good prices too, I wanted to buy one some months ago but far too expensive, it's cheaper to bring the car to a shop...

 

[pepper]

I use the Sealey 1st version, all the time! I have one of the other style in my tool box, I attempted to use it once! I've kept it just in case one day it may come in handy!

 

[lazyduck15]

Thank you Azazelo, Pepper

I will go for the SEALEY AK381 then. I think it is at a good price too.

 

[DaveP]

You can release every balljoint on a 4 with a hammer and a prybar, or just a hammer if you're steve

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

Can anyone elaborate on the 'just a hammer' method? I've been trying to get a steering ball joint out as described here, and it's not budging. And I missed once and pierced the rubber boot

 

[Cornish4]

Hi Tom. Yes that method with the hammer does sometimes work, loosen the nut, spray with penetrating oil, leave for a bit, have a cuppa, then a sharp tap with a steel hammer, and.... Job done. Or maybe not. I find the screw type of splitter works best, the wedge type is a bit agricultural, if you know what I mean.

 

[pepper]

You always need two hammers to shock them off, one behind the ball joint to act as the equilibrium, and the other to whack it on the opposite side, it works but is untidy!

BTW You can get replacement ball joint cover more easily these days, especially as its now become an MOT requirement!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_t....TRC0&_nkw=ball+joint+boot&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

[petak]

my mechanics usualy remove ball joint with hammer but somehow i do not like that method althought is very efective and fast if you know where to hit.

When i was dismantling ball joints on my R4 i was hammering for quite some time.
Then i asked mechanics to help me (nicely). They came and hit each ball joint once and it get appart.

As it turned out i wasn't hitting strong enought. I was sorry for my R4 not to hurt him to much:eek:

 

[benchseat]

Ball joint removal tools do not cost much : a really good one will set you back about £20 - and they are infallible. Place them correctly, tighten the spindle with a spanner, and click, it's free. No hammers, takes about two minutes, and you do not risk damaging the rubber surround to a ball joint if it is not desired to replace it. Doing the job correctly rather than bodging.
Amazon or Google should find plenty of examples. Beta or Pickavant-Sykes do good ones.

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

Thanks chaps. I realised I didn't need to take the ball joint tapers out to get at the steering rack, just unscrewed the track rod ends instead.

 

[Tripyrenees]

I found that was the most difficult bit and took the ball joints off - in fact when I unsrewed them, the arm just fell off