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DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: Joe Gilmore on January 18, 2010, 11:22:08 PM

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: Joe Gilmore on January 18, 2010, 11:22:08 PM

Just bought a '91 318is that needs some work, but the control arms are almost new, with Meyle ball joints.  I've removed control arms before, but never had to worry about destroying the balljoints/boots because they were being replaced.

Does anyone have a good method for convincing the inner ball joints to come out of the subframe without balljoint/boot destruction?

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: dwtaylorpdx on January 19, 2010, 01:22:37 AM

have 2 new ones ready to install and they fall right out... :)
At least thats my luck.

Dave

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: 3bvert on January 19, 2010, 11:45:10 AM

I have same luck
never seems to work when I want to save em
yet one time when I was pulling em off a car in a wrecking yard, did not rip a one, typical
good luck

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: ww318is on March 10, 2010, 02:44:32 PM

Hit it firmly with a mini sledge and it will come off without damage.

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: dakon on October 26, 2010, 10:13:11 PM

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015PN010/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002SRGXY&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0SB83DHF1YF5J918YXPH

these will remove the ball joints without the damage of using a pickle...


however, you need to get one made of good steel, if you get a cheep one then the screw will fail there was a guy on e46fanatics that tried to use a poor quality one did not work. He wound up using a pickle, however he did not want to save the arms, just get them off.

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: bujna on September 10, 2011, 08:03:08 AM

Yeah, those things are the way to go. I can confirm the cheap cast iron ones are crappy too. I found that one of the fork ends would snap off if you had a really stubborn ball joint, and hence snapped two of the seperators during one job..... I'll be investing in a steel one soon :-)

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: willworkfore30s on September 10, 2011, 05:31:52 PM

Quote

these will remove the ball joints without the damage of using a pickle...

This is not necessarily true.  I borrowed a set of those from advances and while it didnt mess up the boot or the ball of the joint, it mushroomed the end of the bolt so that the nut would longer fit.

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: romkasponka on September 11, 2011, 09:03:42 AM

Long aluminium bar and hammer , and it comes out without any thread damage. 100% proved method  ;) On E36 access i good, but never tried on e30 with engine fitted.

Heard also that it is possible to hit subframe bushing near ball joint with hammer and boll joint jumps out, but never worked for me.

Title: you have to leave the nut on..
Post by: Geoff on October 26, 2011, 12:38:25 PM

you loosen the nut,  but leave it on ...use the nut to keep from buggereing up the threads.
                                                           Geoff

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: mr.vang on October 26, 2011, 11:54:31 PM

Quote from: dakon;97994

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015PN010/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002SRGXY&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0SB83DHF1YF5J918YXPH

these will remove the ball joints without the damage of using a pickle...


however, you need to get one made of good steel, if you get a cheep one then the screw will fail there was a guy on e46fanatics that tried to use a poor quality one did not work. He wound up using a pickle, however he did not want to save the arms, just get them off.

this is your best fren

Title: control arm removal w/o damage?
Post by: Gerta318is on October 27, 2011, 08:03:44 PM

I had to use a combination of the pickle fork and ball joint spreader ... worked like charm.