[DeTomaso] Techno Question: Lower front ball joints

[Julian Kift]

The use of a ball joint separator tool is a great way to avoid hitting things, available at your favorite local Chinese tool outlet or Sears, quality and country of origin is probably the same in both cases, but price usually differs significantly ;>) Hopefully somebody on list may have experience of a particular brand that worked for them?

Many people have a tendency to hammer them loose (me included, but the second method) usually by hitting the end of the ball joint (if they have some sense at least with the nut back on to avoid rounding the end and damaging the threads) when in actual fact the better method is two ball end hammers, one placed on the spindle or upright where the taper passes through and then hit the ball of the first hammer with the second's flat face. No damage to uprights and you'll be surprised how easily the joints release.

Good luck,
Julian

> From: cengles at cox.net
> To: SOBill at aol.com
> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:48:15 -0600
> CC: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Techno Question: Lower front ball joints
> 
> Dear Bill and Forum
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>                  Further inspection in the calm of Monday evening after a
> full Sunday reveals that *ALL* the dust seals have failed.   So, I need to
> order more  boots from Energy suspension.   
> 
>  
> 
>                       Dumb questions:   Does one have to remove the ball
> joint to place the dust seal?   It would be too easy to replace them without
> popping the joints out, right?
> 
>  
> 
>                                                           Is there a nice
> way to remove the upper ball joint if it is required?  The only time I have
> done it is with the dreaded pickle fork tool.
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>                                       Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles 
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
>  
> 
> From: SOBill at aol.com [mailto:SOBill at aol.com] 
> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 10:56 PM
> To: cengles at cox.net; detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Techno Question: Lower front ball joints
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Just replace the boots.
> 
>  
> 
> Energy Suspension ball joint boots for Pantera upper rear & upper and lower
> front ball joints:#9-13119  trim ~ 1/8" around the base for a better fit ~$4
> each
> 
>  
> 
> DIY front ball joint removal tool at 
> 
> http://www.panteraplace.com/page207.htm
> 
>  
> 
> Or just coat the whole thing with grease and do it later. Where's the grease
> going to go?
> 
>  
> 
> Have fun today,
> 
> sobill at aol.com 
> 
>  
> 
> In a message dated 2/19/2012 6:16:12 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> cengles at cox.net writes:
> 
> Dear Forum,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                       I am making preparations for the Run to Phoenix and
> discovered that the plastic seal around the front lower ball joints is shot
> on the left and starting to fail on the right.    IIRC they were replaced
> about ten years ago.
> 
> 
> 
>             The Dumb Question: can one simply replace only the failing seal
> and continue to use the ball joint or must a new ball joint be placed?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                                          Its always *something*,  Chuck
> Engles
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
> 
> Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
> 
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
> http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
> 
> Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
> 
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
> http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso