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[Turk]

Just got back from trying to change the centre tie rod. Most of the job went to plan. Track rod ends, idler arm etc all came apart as if I'd fitted them yesterday, but the ball joint that connects the centre tie rod to the steering box just would not loosen. Nut came off ok, but no matter what I tried, I just could not free it.
Ball joint splitter, "Tuning fork" type splitter and a lump hammer, oxy-acetelene to heat it up. Even tried supporting the arm with the MOT pit lift and using a 5 foot long metal bar via the top of the engine to whack it free. I've knocked seven bells out of it.
Gave up at 1am (started at 7pm).
Re-assembled everything. Drove it outside and got a taxi home (£12.60 for a 3 mile trip )

Any ideas what else I can try. 1st time I've not been able to finish a job on the car and I am not a happy camper.
  

[p j morgan]

it sounds like its totaly seized in ,i shoul soak it in wd 40 then put the nut back on .get a block of wood so you do not damage thread and put it on the nut and whack it out with a lump hammer! its got to be knocked straight out .with all you have done it should have come out first try it must be right tight .good look and i hope you get it out

[Omegatoy]

you need something to put tension on the joint maybe the tuning fork splitter jammed in there, then you need 2 hammers to belt either side of the joint, at the same time!!its an interference fit and the only reliable way is to shock the joint out of round pain in the neck to do but they do coe off this way!!

[HerefordElite]

it sounds like its totaly seized in ,i shoul soak it in wd 40 then put the nut back on .get a block of wood so you do not damage thread and put it on the nut and whack it out with a lump hammer! its got to be knocked straight out .with all you have done it should have come out first try it must be right tight .good look and i hope you get it out

might as well pi55 on it rather than use wd40

use a decent penetrant like 'Plusgas'

[Seth]

I had same problem at the other end of this rod, when changing the idler.

Used two good hammers, and simultaneously clouted the 'eye' of the joint. Came apart on the second clout - good luck mate!

[dbug]

it sounds like its totaly seized in ,i shoul soak it in wd 40 then put the nut back on .get a block of wood so you do not damage thread and put it on the nut and whack it out with a lump hammer! its got to be knocked straight out .with all you have done it should have come out first try it must be right tight .good look and i hope you get it out

might as well pi55 on it rather than use wd40

use a decent penetrant like 'Plusgas'

WD40 is good for what its manufactured for - repelling water plus can act as a lubricant.  Its not a deruster or any use to free off taper joints - reckon you're right pi55 is probably better, coca cola certainly is!!

[tmx]

try PlusGas

wd40 is designed to displace water not undo rusty bolts! plusgas may work if not a lot of heat maybe required

[Pitchfork]

it sounds like its totaly seized in ,i shoul soak it in wd 40 then put the nut back on .get a block of wood so you do not damage thread and put it on the nut and whack it out with a lump hammer! its got to be knocked straight out .with all you have done it should have come out first try it must be right tight .good look and i hope you get it out

might as well pi55 on it rather than use wd40

use a decent penetrant like 'Plusgas'

WD40 is good for what its manufactured for - repelling water plus can act as a lubricant.  Its not a deruster or any use to free off taper joints - reckon you're right pi55 is probably better, coca cola certainly is!!

Certainly not fit to drink!

[Turk]

Got it loose today. Used the bike to work and then over to Machine Marti in Swansea as they had a set of three Ball Joint splitters for about £15.00.
Got the car over the pit again and using the smallest of the splitters, the ball joint from hell popped loose on the second tap. Nothing else would budge it. The splitter I had originally was just that little bit to wide to really get in properly. Nothing else would do it.  
Amazing how much easier things are having the right sized tool.    Thanks for the input and advice.  

[p j morgan]

well done turk .by the way thats what my missis keeps telling me .you no !about the tool

[Ghost]

I do Belive that I now have it "The ball joint from hell"   >:(I cant get the joint free on my Steering Idler arm, the bush fell of no probs but the ball joint does not want to move. I've tryed allsorts and stotted my fingers a couple of times aswell. so Im going to the shop tommorow to get a pair :-/ of Ball joint splitters £5.73 inc. vat. hope that works.

[Pete Elite]

well done turk .by the way thats what my missis keeps telling me .you no !about the tool

      What it popped loose on the second tap!!! Best tell her to be more gentle with your tool .

[Turk]

I do Belive that I now have it "The ball joint from hell"   >:(I cant get the joint free on my Steering Idler arm, the bush fell of no probs but the ball joint does not want to move. I've tryed allsorts and stotted my fingers a couple of times aswell. so Im going to the shop tommorow to get a pair :-/ of Ball joint splitters £5.73 inc. vat. hope that works.

I bought these.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht118-tie-rodball-joint-splitter-set
The thinest one is the one you'll need. With the Steering Idler you should have room to wedge the splitter in tight and if that doesn't work, with the splitter still wedged in tight, shock it loose by hitting the sides of the "eye" simultaniously with two hefty hammers.
I didn't have the room for the "two hammers trick" on the Steering Box arm.

[Turk]

I do Belive that I now have it "The ball joint from hell"   >:(I cant get the joint free on my Steering Idler arm, the bush fell of no probs but the ball joint does not want to move. I've tryed allsorts and stotted my fingers a couple of times aswell. so Im going to the shop tommorow to get a pair :-/ of Ball joint splitters £5.73 inc. vat. hope that works.

I've just measured the one I used out of the set of three I bought and it has a 20mm fork span, so this will do you.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht221-ball-joint-separator

[Ghost]

Thanks Turk, [smiley=beer.gif] Got them today and it worked without any hassel. So now I can take the Beast back for its retest tommorow, agin thanks for the tip.
Dave [smiley=evil.gif]