Better than sliced bread

[Kibokojoe]

Yesterday I installed new tie rod ends and used a ball joint remover that I purchased at Harbor Freight a while back. Most tools at Harbor Freight are iffy but this one was amazing. Not only does it remove ball joints easily it will remove them without damaging the rubber boots. In my case the boot were already rotten so it didn't matter but what I would have given for this tool when in the past I had destroyed a good pair of tie rod end boots using a pickling fork. Ha never again. What is even sweeter is that I had a 50% off coupon so I payed less than $15 USD for the tool. This tool is a must have. Set your pneumatic torque wrench to slow and let the tool do the work :). Make sure you leave the nut on the end of the tie rod end because when these let go they let off a pretty good BANG... Kind of fun after a while.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/kibokojoe/balljointtool.jpg

[632 Regal]

I have something very similar and after a few uses it sheared the pivot bolt, no big deal however the threads on the main tightening nut are thining to the point of stripping. This is also happening with hi torque grease applied once I first got it.

Just keep an eye on wear and tear and you'll be fine.

[Kibokojoe]

Maybe I should have bought two :)

[leicesterboy15]

Yesterday I installed new tie rod ends and used a ball joint remover that I purchased at Harbor Freight a while back. Most tools at Harbor Freight are iffy but this one was amazing. Not only does it remove ball joints easily it will remove them without damaging the rubber boots. In my case the boot were already rotten so it didn't matter but what I would have given for this tool when in the past I had destroyed a good pair of tie rod end boots using a pickling fork. Ha never again. What is even sweeter is that I had a 50% off coupon so I payed less than $15 USD for the tool. This tool is a must have. Set your pneumatic torque wrench to slow and let the tool do the work :). Make sure you leave the nut on the end of the tie rod end because when these let go they let off a pretty good BANG... Kind of fun after a while.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj225/kibokojoe/balljointtool.jpg

my sentiments exactly!! A pickle fork might work but generally its a lot more work.

[BigKriss]

I find pickle forks damage the bj boots a lot more


my sentiments exactly!! A pickle fork might work but generally its a lot more work.

[Kibokojoe]

Yeap if you going to throw it away use the pickle fork but if not this is the way to go.

[whiskychaser]

Maybe I should have bought two :)
That seems like a good idea. Tool of choice but IIRC somebody on this thread broke one;)

[e34.535i.sport]

That seems like a good idea. Tool of choice but IIRC somebody on this thread broke one;)

I've killed one so far but it did get through a lot of balljoints in it's lifetime so it died an honourable death :p

[whiskychaser]

I've killed one so far but it did get through a lot of balljoints in it's lifetime so it died an honourable death :p
Sorry John. Didnt mean you. Leicesterboy said he broke one too:D Maybe the trick is how you hold your mouth. Or how you wield the 2LB hammer?

[genphreak]

Any chance you can get another next time you go? I had a look on the bay but they want $80 for the same one! I know a few of us downunder (and elsewhere) would want them... I'm tired of breaking the sand cast iron crap we get here... You have to beat/roast the joint it to a pulp to avoid breaking them...

[whiskychaser]

Any chance you can get another next time you go? I had a look on the bay but they want $80 for the same one! I know a few of us downunder (and elsewhere) would want them... I'm tired of breaking the sand cast iron crap we get here... You have to beat/roast the joint it to a pulp to avoid breaking them...

Not sure if you mean John, Leicesterboy or me. Or even Andy (Ferret). We all seem to using the same bit of kit. We live in different parts of the country so I doubt they come from the same source. Any time you want a piece of kit from the UK you just ask. I trust your credit. (Oh, did I say and I have a brother out there somewhere?;))

[genphreak]

Not sure if you mean John, Leicesterboy or me. Or even Andy (Ferret). We all seem to using the same bit of kit. We live in different parts of the country so I doubt they come from the same source. Any time you want a piece of kit from the UK you just ask. I trust your credit. (Oh, did I say and I have a brother out there somewhere?;)) Heh, thanks Whisky... I meant KibokoJoe (sorry), but anybdy willing and able to get us one of these and post em downunder, that'd be great. Jus tlet me know how much adn I'll PayPal the funds :) Cheers, Nick

[whiskychaser]

Heh, thanks Whisky... I meant KibokoJoe (sorry), but anybdy willing and able to get us one of these and post em downunder, that'd be great. Jus tlet me know how much adn I'll PayPal the funds :) Cheers, Nick
There are loads of these on ebay uk and they are peanuts. Pick one and pm me the link and your address. You get it for free if you send my brother a postcard. As long as he doesnt know its from me. Deal?

[Kibokojoe]

Here is the one from Harborfreight. But it doesn't show the price. Your suppose to print this out and go to the local Hfreight and pick it up. About 4 times a year I get a 50% off coupon from HF. Its has popped a half a dozen ball joints and hasn't cratered yet. Believe me when I use this thing I have leather gloves and safety glasses on.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdutkp

[632 Regal]

that one looks real crappy, thumb nut for the pivot?

[Kibokojoe]

Yeah but so far no problems. I guess if it breaks than I will go for a NAPA separator. There about $60. But this is the first time I have ever tried one of these things I didn't even know it would work. I am now sold.

[genphreak]

Thanks Ws... sounds great.

Found this one on ebay.co.uk (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T432200-TRIDENT-BALL-JOINT-REMOVER-TOOL-PROFESSIONAL_W0QQitemZ180419705635QQcmdZViewItemQQ ptZUK_Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item2a01da3b23), looks very neat: It has no less than 4 positions (almost as many as my gf!). Maybe its worth a try.

'Send your bro a postcard'? (He's here in Oz right?) Now its me to not be sure what you mean (?)...

[genphreak]

Here is the one from Harborfreight. But it doesn't show the price. Your suppose to print this out and go to the local Hfreight and pick it up. About 4 times a year I get a 50% off coupon from HF. Its has popped a half a dozen ball joints and hasn't cratered yet. Believe me when I use this thing I have leather gloves and safety glasses on.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdutkp

So yours is black, cast iron? Not all spangly like that one in your first post?

I thought it was made out of platinum. Now I was expecting it to be Titanium since it was cheap end of the scale. but u know, for that'd be sorta acceptable. It's what we need, space age tools to work on our ol cars... LOL!

[Kibokojoe]

Which one?.... show a pic or a link to the site so we all can see :). Hey if this cheepo breaks than I will need another

[genphreak]

Which one?.... show a pic or a link to the site so we all can see :). Hey if this cheepo breaks than I will need another Fixed that post, sorry Whisky, added this link: see here... (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T432200-TRIDENT-BALL-JOINT-REMOVER-TOOL-PROFESSIONAL_W0QQitemZ180419705635QQcmdZViewItemQQ ptZUK_Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item2a01da3b23)

[whiskychaser]

Fixed that post, sorry Whisky, added this link: see here... (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T432200-TRIDENT-BALL-JOINT-REMOVER-TOOL-PROFESSIONAL_W0QQitemZ180419705635QQcmdZViewItemQQ ptZUK_Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item2a01da3b23)
Just PM me your address and and I will get said item posted to you. Shall we say I dont get on with my brother that well? Its well worth it winding him up thinking who in Oz he has forgotten:D

[leicesterboy15]

Not sure if you mean John, Leicesterboy or me. Or even Andy (Ferret). We all seem to using the same bit of kit. We live in different parts of the country so I doubt they come from the same source. Any time you want a piece of kit from the UK you just ask. I trust your credit. (Oh, did I say and I have a brother out there somewhere?;))

WTF? Now I am confused! I broke one but I think its because I used a torque wrench on it:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/brighterbuys/IMG_8178.jpg


Fixed that post, sorry Whisky, added this link: see here... (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T432200-TRIDENT-BALL-JOINT-REMOVER-TOOL-PROFESSIONAL_W0QQitemZ180419705635QQcmdZViewItemQQ ptZUK_Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item2a01da3b23)

I picked up my replacement one for £25 at a local parts shop, this the one I got:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LASER-TOOLS-Ball-Joint-Seperator-Scissor-Type_W0QQitemZ270551769919QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Ha nd_Tools_Equipment?hash=item3efe24633f

Theres also one here for half the price...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-SCISSOR-TYPE-BALL-JOINT-SEPERATOR-13914_W0QQitemZ200302149633QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_H and_Tools_Equipment?hash=item2ea2f04001

They do the job so quickly its well worth the money

[Ferret]

There are loads of these on ebay uk and they are peanuts. Pick one and pm me the link and your address. You get it for free if you send my brother a postcard. As long as he doesnt know its from me. Deal?

Haha totally loving it - you need to put something like completely wacky on it :P

The one leicesterboy linked: This One (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LASER-TOOLS-Ball-Joint-Seperator-Scissor-Type_W0QQitemZ270551769919QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Ha nd_Tools_Equipment?hash=item3efe24633f) is the exact one I've got, they're awesome.

Two tricks I've learned with them - if you torque them up and it feels like they're going to break, just wallop the single claw with a lump hammer - the shock will make the joint ping apart without breaking the separator.

I tend to cheat though and just use the electric rattle gun - means that the balljoints can be separated in less than 5 seconds - absoloute bliss to use.

[Kibokojoe]

Smack the ball joint as you torque the separator.

[Kibokojoe]

Na nothing fancy. Proper technique though. Smack ball joint with ball peen as you torque

[leicesterboy15]

Ruined another ball joint separator, on the thrust arms this time, I can't believe the amount of pressure we applied didn't split the ball joint, instead it broke the puller, I should have given it a smack like the advice above! I can't believe it bent the puller though, the bottom is bent completely out of shape (it used to be straight!) and the bolt is bent beyond use, I have the bolt from my old one though.....another expensive lesson!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/brighterbuys/linked/IMG_8292.jpg

The ball joints came off with ease on one side and on the other they were almost impossible.

[Kibokojoe]

An air hammer placed just so works wonders. I gradually torque my puller by hand and use the air hammer to give it a good shake. Haven't bent one yet but it is bound to happen someday.

[93 525 Paul]

Thanks Ws... sounds great.

Found this one on ebay.co.uk (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T432200-TRIDENT-BALL-JOINT-REMOVER-TOOL-PROFESSIONAL_W0QQitemZ180419705635QQcmdZViewItemQQ ptZUK_Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item2a01da3b23), looks very neat: It has no less than 4 positions (almost as many as my gf!). Maybe its worth a try.


That Trident looks like a much nicer tool than the one leicesterboy and I have. The one I bought (and trashed) is a total piece of kit, it's cast crap and the threads on the drive bolt are way too coarse for the job. The pivot shaft was not square to the drive bolt. Just junk.

[Kibokojoe]

I have never had any success just using the tool by itself. Lot of stress going on. Air hammer with a flat tipped pin, thats the ticket. Loosen the nut on the ball joint a couple of turns where the thread on the ball joint etc. I always turn the tool by hand never use pneumatic, you need to feel the build up of pressure. I always wear leather gloves so when it releases I don't bugger up my hand. Now after saying all of that tonight I will break mine. Hey its just a matter of time.