![]() |
|
|
|
Recreational Mechanic
|
Ball joint removal - What's the best order to do things??
Replacing ball joints and replacing struts. Starting by removing the ball joints as previous posts indicate this is easiest with the struts still in the car so I can use a jack to hold the tool in place. Just one question:
Should I remove the tapered pinch pin that holds the strut tube to the ball joint before or after I try to remove the big ball joint nut on the bottom? Or does it not matter?
__________________
P Cars: 2022 Macan GTS / One empty garage space ---- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2021 F-250 Diesel / 2024 Toyota GR86 6MT ---- Gone: 1997 Spec Boxster Race Car, 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053 / PCA Club Racing / WRL Endurance Racing |
||
![]() |
|
Garage Queen
|
I would leave it in until the large nut is gone off the bottom.
__________________
Stephanie '21 Model S Plaid, '21 Model 3 Performance '13 Focus ST, Off to a new home: '16 Focus RS,'86 911 Targa 3.4, '87 930, '05 Lotus Elise, '19 Audi RS3, |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Marysville Wa.
Posts: 22,431
|
get it out of the strut first, then get the bottom nut off. if it's stuck in the strut, you have more leverage with it still attached to the a-arm.
__________________
https://www.instagram.com/johnwalker8704 8009 103rd pl ne Marysville Wa 98270 206 637 4071 |
||
![]() |
|
Recreational Mechanic
|
Thanks guys.
![]()
__________________
P Cars: 2022 Macan GTS / One empty garage space ---- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2021 F-250 Diesel / 2024 Toyota GR86 6MT ---- Gone: 1997 Spec Boxster Race Car, 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053 / PCA Club Racing / WRL Endurance Racing |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: VA
Posts: 591
|
|||
![]() |
|
Recreational Mechanic
|
Thanks again. I guess I was lucky b/c my ball joint nuts spun off pretty easily with a little PB Blaster followed by the special tool on my impact wrench. It's all apart on the workbench now!
__________________
P Cars: 2022 Macan GTS / One empty garage space ---- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2021 F-250 Diesel / 2024 Toyota GR86 6MT ---- Gone: 1997 Spec Boxster Race Car, 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053 / PCA Club Racing / WRL Endurance Racing |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 353
|
I used a jack to press against the torque wrench when i was trying to get the appropriate torque on the nut when replacing...if i recall pretty high torque on the nut
|
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I'm having a hard time separating the ball joint from the strut. I took the pin out with ease but the top of the ball joint won't come out of the strut!
Any advice here? Is it safe to heat the bottom of the strut? Thanks.
__________________
Sal 1984 911 Carrera Cab M491 (Factory Wide Body) 1975 911S Targa (SOLD) 1964 356SC (SOLD) 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible |
||
![]() |
|
Home of the Whopper
|
I used a tie rod tool to separate the ball joint from the strut. Only good if you are replacing the ball joints.
__________________
1968 912 coupe 1971 911E Targa rustbucket 1972 914 1.7 1987 924S |
||
![]() |
|
cycling has-been
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 7,238
|
Quote:
Bill K
__________________
73 911T MFI, 76 912E, 77 Turbo Carrera |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
Quote:
I can't believe how hard it is to get the ball joint out of the strut and nothing is rusted! Thanks.
__________________
Sal 1984 911 Carrera Cab M491 (Factory Wide Body) 1975 911S Targa (SOLD) 1964 356SC (SOLD) 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible |
||
![]() |
|
cycling has-been
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 7,238
|
It will be easier if you keep the strut bolted in at the top - otherwise you run the risk of pulling the brake hose apart, or ripping it.
Plus, the more you keep bolted up, the more leverage you can apply. Bill K
__________________
73 911T MFI, 76 912E, 77 Turbo Carrera |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
|
As mentioned I had to remove the top of the strut to relieve the angle tension but even here it took a lot of force with a fork to separate the strut from the ball joint. And the fork destroyed the ball joints rubber boot but they are separated.
So I ordered a new ball joint and ball joint nut to replace the destroyed ball joint. I tried a pipe wrench to remove the ball joint nut but that did not work. What did work was heat the nut and hammer and chisel the nut off. So now I need a tool to install the new ball joint and nut, any tips here? What tool will work? Thanks.
__________________
Sal 1984 911 Carrera Cab M491 (Factory Wide Body) 1975 911S Targa (SOLD) 1964 356SC (SOLD) 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I just ordered this tool:
it's made by KD Tools part # KD3937 I'll post back results once I get it and use it this week.
__________________
Sal 1984 911 Carrera Cab M491 (Factory Wide Body) 1975 911S Targa (SOLD) 1964 356SC (SOLD) 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible |
||
![]() |
|
Recreational Mechanic
|
Quote:
__________________
P Cars: 2022 Macan GTS / One empty garage space ---- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2021 F-250 Diesel / 2024 Toyota GR86 6MT ---- Gone: 1997 Spec Boxster Race Car, 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053 / PCA Club Racing / WRL Endurance Racing |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I got the nuts off already using heat, PB Blast, Hammer and Chisel but it destroyed the nut! Have new ball joints and nuts on the way as well as the tool.
__________________
Sal 1984 911 Carrera Cab M491 (Factory Wide Body) 1975 911S Targa (SOLD) 1964 356SC (SOLD) 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible |
||
![]() |
|
Recreational Mechanic
|
Probably a smart choice. Some people have ruined their $50 special tool by using it to remove the nuts. I was lucky and it worked both off and on.
__________________
P Cars: 2022 Macan GTS / One empty garage space ---- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2021 F-250 Diesel / 2024 Toyota GR86 6MT ---- Gone: 1997 Spec Boxster Race Car, 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053 / PCA Club Racing / WRL Endurance Racing |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
UPDATE:
This tool works but you need to put a jack under it to really press it against the Gland nut. Then I used a pipe wrench around this socket to loosen and/or tighten the nut. For the money it works OK. Only trick is to be sure it has a lot of upward pressure to keep the tool in place. Quote:
__________________
Sal 1984 911 Carrera Cab M491 (Factory Wide Body) 1975 911S Targa (SOLD) 1964 356SC (SOLD) 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible |
||
![]() |
|