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Ball joint separation?

Posted: 11 May 2013 17:19
by ChristoSlang
I need some advice on separating a Patrol's ball joints to replace the drag link. :helpsign:

It seemed like an easy enough job, but at half time it's Chuck Norris = 1 and ball joint separator = 0. A Patrol's ball joints are too thick to be accommodated by a standard joint separator, so I had to grind the separator to fit over the tapered pin. That was not enough, as the separator could not get close enough for its screw to push against the bottom of the tapered pin. A little bit more grinding and it all fitted well enough.

But when I started to tighten the screw on the separator, it did this:
It are broken!
It are broken!
Separated separator.jpg (167.19 KiB) Viewed 1638 times
What now? I can't find a larger separator in any of the usual parts shops I went to, and Adendorff's does not show anything on their web site. Does anybody have some proper truck tools that I may borrow?

Re: Ball joint separation?

Posted: 11 May 2013 20:45
by ChristoSlang
Anybody? :think:

Re: Ball joint separation?

Posted: 11 May 2013 21:46
by Bekker
I don't know if there are space for two hammers. What we used to do is to hold one heavy hammer on the one side and hit it with another hammer on the opposite side and it separate by it self. Good luck

Re: Ball joint separation?

Posted: 12 May 2013 11:58
by ChristoSlang
I've jacked up the Patrol, positioned an axle stand strategically under the ball joint, then lowered the car onto the stand (slowly at first, then as fast as the jack would go down). No luck though.

Then I tried resting the weight of the vehicle on the joint and smacking it simultaneously with two hammers. Still nothing, so I'm giving up before I get spanner rash :confused:

I'll phone around tomorrow to find a place with bigger mechanics equipped who are equipped with bigger hammers...

Re: Ball joint separation?

Posted: 13 May 2013 18:11
by Peter Connan
Christo, daai seperatos is gemors. Hulle werk net reg op Minis. Jy soek hierdie een: http://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=h ... AQ&dur=437

Kom leen myne, dan tel jy sommer jou recovery punte op?