Manual recommends replacing balljoint and suspension arm as a unit becasue it is difficult to seperate. Local autostores only carry balljoint.

Does anyone know how to seperate ball joint from suspension arm, or know where to locate unit?

Dealer only sells unit, but it's real pricey.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge on how to seperate or what to do.

 

you can use a pickle fork to seperate them.

 

No, the pickle fork is to separate the shaft of the ball joint from the other hub assembly.

You need a hydraulic press to get the ball joint out of the control arm. I removed the arms, bought new ball joints, and took them to the dealer. They pressed out the old joints and pressed in the new ones for around $50, IIRC. That was back before I had my own press.

 

Great, that's exactly what I needed to know.

I'll pull the control arm and scout out somebody with the experience and press to do it for me.

Thanks for the knowledge.

 

Just about any Mechanic should have the tools to press out an old ball joint and press the new one in. $50 is real steep seeing as its only a 10 minute job.

 

Yeah, well, what do you expect at the dealer! I wised up and spent $100 on my own press...I've used it quite a bit on stuff since then.

 

If the new ones don't come with retaining clips, I have heard that its a good idea to put a couple of spot welds on there to make sure that they don't come back out at while driving (generally a bad thing to have happen).

 

The ones I got from P-S-T have clips on them, and would recomend the kit if your suspension needs a freshing anyway.

 

Thanks, I got it done. Local shop preseded it out/in for $20.

Finished that, put a new clutch in, adjusted brakes, bleed clutch and brakes yesterday. It's running/driving so much better. Next I want to find an e-fan.

Thanks again.

 

I pressed in my own set and did add 3 spot (mig) welds. I spot welded mine because I dont want my camber to change in hard corners. They can move slightly with retaining clips but not come out. I could still change them by grinding away the welds but its not easy. Now I also made sure to buy the ball joints with grease fittings as many dont have em. I regularly grease them and dont expect then to wear out anytime soon.