[DeTomaso] Ball joint extraction question
SOBill at aol.com
SOBill at aol.com
Fri May 16 00:55:41 EDT 2008
I have and have tried just about every ball joint tool that is sold. None
are satisfactory.
If you don't care the ball joints, a pickle fork/ big hammer is the cheapest
and the best. But I don't like to use hammers.
At _www.members.aol.com/sobill_ (http://www.members.aol.com/sobill) you
will find the file _Pantera_Front_Ball_Joint_Tool.jpg_
(http://www.members.aol.com/sobill/Pantera_Front_Ball_Joint_Tool.jpg) .
The tool consists of two pieces of tubing, three washers, a bolt, and a nut.
It will easily separate Pantera front ball joints with the spindle either on
or off the car. No hammer required. The parts of this tool were all items I
had available. The dimension are not critical as long as you can install the
tool correctly.
Here's how the tool is used.
Remove the cotter pin from the object ball joint. Remove the ball joint nut.
Flip the nut over and thread it back on the ball joint stud until it is
flush with the end of the stud. Place the small piece of tubing over the stud/nut
so it bears against the flat part of the spindle. This tubing will keep the
tool from slipping off the stud/nut. Insert the 7/16 inch washer so it rest
against the stud/nut. This washer keeps the stud/nut from getting buggered up.
With the nut remaining on the ball joint stud, the ball joint will be
retained in the spindle when it separates.
Screw the 1/2 inch nut all the way onto the 1/2 inch bolt. Install the 1/2
inch washer on the bolt. Install the larger washer on the bolt. The 1/2 washer
is to fit the head of the bolt, the larger washer is to fit the OD of the
tubing. Slide the long piece of tubing over the ball joint stud/not you are not
removing. Fit the threaded end of the 1/2 inch bolt/nut/washers into the
long tube and position it inline with the short tube. Unscrew the nut while
holding the 1/2 inch bolt. The bolt will just move into the end of the short tube
and bear against the ball joint stud/nut you want to remove. Using a
visegrip to hold the bolt and a wrench to unscrew the nut, apply pressure until the
ball joint separates.
The ball joint separation will be accompanied by a substantial bang. But the
ball joint will not fly out, the tool will not fly out, the ball joint and
it's rubber bootie will be unharmed, and you will not need to smash anything
with a hammer.
When you have loosened the first ball joint, leave the first ball joint in
place on the spindle, screw the nut all the way back onto the bolt, flip the
tool end for end, and remove the second ball joint.
This simple tool removed the front ball joints which have been in place on
my '74 for 35 years with no sweat, no swearing, and no injuries.
Have fun,
SOBill Taylor
sobill at aol.com
SOBill Taylor
sobill at aol.com
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