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[24_Valve]

just bought new set of front lower wishbones complete with bushes and balljoints - my mate say's he knows a mechanic (toyota main dealer) who will fit the pair for £50 cash... sounds reasonable so I agree... he turns up at my address yesterday with a few socket peices, torque wrench, hammer, couple of spanners and long bolster type tool with two wedge shaped prongs at the end (calls it a splitter?) I wouldn't know... spends over an hour with my help, jack & axle stands just trying to loosen the two long bolts... comes back today with 21mm socket for top bolt but still missing an 18mm for the pinch bolt finally gets both long bolts out and the pinch bolt with a 19mm  but can't drop out the wishbone because balljoint is siezed (I'm told) so he wedges long pronged wedge thingy between steering knuckle & balljoint and start smashing away with the hammer (also hitting the caliper) after 15 minutes of smashing I tell him to leave it and ask him to replace the bolts so I can still use my car. Then find out that he's shifted the balljoint pin enough that the pinch bolt won't go back in! He say's he'll be back today to finish the job (day 3 and 1st wishbone still not off) My car is now sitting on axle stands and not safe to drive because the balljoint can't be bolted back onto the steering knuckle. basically I'm scr*wed !!! Any ideas or solutions welcome... £50 for anyone that can fit the new one's today... so I can cancel Mr toyota! I live in Greenwich, London, just of the A2. thanks Steve

[CaptainZok]

You might want to show this to your friend Ug before he has his daily banana.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152986949

[05omegav6]

 
 as a very very temporary fix, place a block of wood between your trolley jack and the wishbone, and carefully jack the arm up. you should then be able to refit the bolt to the steering knuckle. thisshould enable you to very gently get around till the weekend, when there may be a few more people around to help out.
once all done, you'll need to get a full and proper alignment check carried out.
see also chrisgixers' post in test posts regarding the ins and outs of alignment.
good luck. al.

[24_Valve]

thanks for that... makes perfect sense to me and I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination. got a funny feeling that it may be beyond the scope of mr toyota and his large hammer. seriously need some help if anyone lives in SE London and able to get over to me.

[Bionic]

Sorry to hear about your problem but as you now know all mechanics are not what they say they are.
Sounds like yours was real tool and should not be left alone with a dinky toy!
Best bet is to sack the fool regardless and find a one who can do the job properly.
It may cost a tad more but at leats you will know it done correctly because some of the methods and torque settings are crutial! You can bet he would not have known, or used them.
Its your life at stake, and others if the wishbones collapse - do the right thing.
Best of luck though.

[Agemo]

At least you did the right thing by asking on here, I think it's a good job your Monkey didn't finish it, you will end up with a good job. You will also laugh about this soon, I know it's horrible at the moment, but it could be a lot worse.

[Kevin Wood]

If the pin has moved, might as well get it right out.

Firstly, unbolt the caliper and move it out of the way.

Secondly, give it a squirt of plus gas and leave for a few hours.

Load it up with the crowbar between the upright and the base of the ball joint, then give the socket section of the upright a few sharp clouts with the hammer and it will pop out.

Probably would have been easier to get the pin out before removing the two bolts through the bushes.

Oh, and this mechanic.. No 18mm socket? Where does he park his horse when he visits?

Kevin

[Liam]

The ball joint can be rather stiff if assembled dry. Best trick is to knock a cold chisel or even a fat screwdriver into the split of the pinch bolt area to pry it open a little. Then the ball joint will come out much much easier.

[plym ian]

this reminds me got to get mine done 

[24_Valve]

thanks for the advice - raised the wishbone with a jack but the balljoint pin didn't pop up. just lifted the whole car so i can't put the pinch bolt back. keeping it off road til a mobile mechanic comes in the morning (not the bloke thats been playing with it). any one know how long it should take a pro mechanic with fully loaded van, to replace both wishbones? and roughly what I should expect to pay (in london). don't want to get ripped off 

[Sixstring]

Unfortunately, you COULD be into £100...........

mechanics generally don't like putting right other people's bad work.........2x hrs@ £50ph??

[24_Valve]

Ouch! thought it might be something like that... car off road for 3 days and possible death by wife when see's the bank balance... all cos I was stupid enough to get taken in by the old "freind of a freind" routine... just glad i don't have a toyota 

[Liam]

raised the wishbone with a jack but the balljoint pin didn't pop up. just lifted the whole car

Wouldn't expect it to if it took 15 minutes of hammering to move it down! As suggested above you need to open out the steering knuckle where it pinches the ball joint pin by knocking a cold chisel or fat screwdriver into the split. That will make it much easier to move that ball joint either off or back on again.

[24_Valve]

thanks liam. I know you're spot on... but tried the jack thing this morning before you posted... I'd already downed tools and given before I got back online and saw your post. Just hope the real mechanic that comes out tomorrow knows to what you said.. otherwise the mig is gonna get more of a beating 

[CaptainZok]

You could always print out the how-to in case he's not used to doing them.