Is ball joint removal DIY job?

[ulrichd]

I am looking at my 101 Projects book and Bentley manual and the job seems pretty straightforward. I have ordered the special Porsche tool to remove the slotted nuts under the control arms and a set of replacementsfrom our host.

Then I came across a $300 press tool on Pelican suggested for pressing the ball joint into the steering knuckle and now I am not so sure.

Just FYI, I am doing this as part of a project to deal with an annoying vibration in my steering wheel from 70-75mph. I have eliminated the wheel/imbalance since I have two sets of wheels. Since the ball joints have not been replaced on my 155K miles 78SC this seems to be worthwile.

Any comments are appreciated.

Ulrich

[jaydubya]

I just did the ball joints on my SC. I had the a-arms out of the car for it, but it was really easy. After reading all the threads on here about how difficult it can be I was a bit scared...

You definitely want the socket that Pelican sells. I used an electric impact wrench to loosen the castle nuts with that socket - they came right off. Looks like someone who had come before me was nice enough to install those nuts with some anti-sieze. I could see how it would be really hard to get them loose if they were frozen.

Order new castle nuts, retaining washers and cotter pins along with the ball joints. If the castle nuts won't come loose, use a dremel tool to cut them off.

If you are replacing them with the a-arms still on the car, you need to rig up some way to hold the socket and your impact wrench tight against the ball joint castle nut from below. If you search for Muffinman's "front suspension refreshening" thread there is a picture.

Edit - by far the hardest part of the job was getting the wedge pins out of the struts to release the ball joint. One came right out with minimal pounding. I had to drill the other one out - took quite a while. Don't forget to order those wedge pins (and washers and nuts) since you will very likely destroy the old ones while removing them.

[coloradoporsche]

Is ball joint removal DIY job?

Yes.

The special tool for the castellated nut is best used with an impact wrench and some good leverage to hold it down on the nut. If you try to use it with a socket wrench, laying on your back, you may have trouble keeping it from slipping as I did. A monkey wrench and some swearing got it loose for me.

edit spelling

[9elf]

If you have trouble, use a propane torch to heat the castellated nut first. I did.

[BK911]

I jacked up the corner I was working on, heated up the castle nut, put the impact on the castle nut, then released some pressure from the jack until a lot of weight from the car was resting on the impact gun. Make sure everything is perfectly square, then hit the trigger. Zapped right off.

To tighten, my impact couldn't get the nut tight enough. I used the jack to hold the special tool against the castle nut, then used the jack handle as an extension on the rachet. I tighten to approx really f'n tight.

As others have said, the wedge pins can be the real beyotch.

Have fun!

[TWork]

It's definitely a DIY job. As 9elf said... liberal use of heat is a must.

[Jeff Alton]

Originally posted by ulrichd

Then I came across a $300 press tool on Pelican suggested for pressing the ball joint into the steering knuckle and now I am not so sure.


Ulrich [/B]

What tool is this. There is no need to "press" anything in when doing this job. Remove the big nut with the proper tool, press out the pin, and tap the ball joint out of the bottom of the strut. Clean up the strut bottom and put push the new joint in and slide the pin in to secure it. Raise up the a-arm and fasten and torque the new nut into place. Use a new cotter pin.

Cheers

[SP2]

You can do it yourself. I suspect replacing them will not solve your vibration though. From what I have read, you replace ball joints so they don't break on you while you are driving. There a few posts on Pelican of what a disaster that can be.

I had my a-arms off the car, and I didn't have the tool, so I took it to John Walker and he buzzed them off for me with the tool and an impact wrench (gratis). Also buzzed on the new ones for me.

Just a tip I learned the hard way: when you are beating the wedge pins out, I left the nut partially on the end of the bolt. It was much stronger than the bolt alone. The bolt just mushed up as I hit it and I almost didn't get that first one out. You also definitely need to replace the wedge pins. They are stretch bolts and shouldn't be restretched.

Out of curiosity, could your vibration be coming from old tie rods or tie rod ends?

[randywebb]

Here is a useful thread on installation sequencing...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/333917-ball-joint-installation-question.html#post3142250