Wheel suspension joint #31126756491

gwinder · #1 07-03-2011, 01:15 PM

I'm in the process of replacing front drive shafts and tei rods and in the process of removing the control arm, I damaged the ball joint boot of the wheel suspension joint. This is the ball joint that attaches to the wheel hub. I have taken off the two small bolts that appear to hold the ball joint to the hub but the joint doesn't want to come off...I managed to get a chisel under one side and it started to bend the flange...should I just keep on going trying to pry it off or am I doing something wrong.

Looking at the RealOem

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0i Frnt axle support,wishbone/tension strut
part #15

it appears the joint should come away from the hub once the bolts are taken out.

Any ideas please?

Thanks

Gary

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chuckster · #2 07-03-2011, 05:48 PM

Pull really hard on the tie rod while someone pounds on the joint with a 3lb sledge. Should not take but at the most 4 or 5 hits. Be really careful not to hit the joint where the rubber is. You probably should re-install those two bolts first. Alot of DIY'ers have difficulty removing those two bolts. Guess you did good there!

mywidebody02 · #3 07-03-2011, 06:44 PM

that doesn't hook to the tie rod. You need a slide hammer. it screws on to the bolt then with the slide hammer it will pop out.

gwinder · #4 07-03-2011, 08:54 PM

Thanks....never used a slide hammer...first time for everything?

Gary

gwinder · #5 07-03-2011, 10:28 PM

Here is a picture of the ball joint. As you can see I've managed to pry up the plate bit it still won't split from the hub. Is the slide hammer what I need?

Thanks

Gary

flatlander · #6 07-05-2011, 01:06 AM

Yes, try a slide hammer. If that doesn't work, your other option is to remove the axle nut, and pull the axle out of the hub to get the CV boot out of the way. Then you could hammer the ball joint out from the top. Otherwise there's no room to hammer it out from the top.

Harbor freight has some slide hammers. get a big one.

gwinder · #7 07-05-2011, 01:24 AM

I managed to get it off by taking the hub off the suspension and then knocking it out from the other side....took a few minutes.

Thanks

Gary

sasquatch · #8 07-05-2011, 02:19 PM

Goddamn. I'm right in the middle of doing this exact same procedure. I got the passenger side bolts off the ball joint (requires a special star bolt socket FYI) but I managed to snap off one of the driver's side bolts. Sucks. Now I have to drill out the bolt and remove or re-tap it. I was wondering how to remove the ball joint because it is a PITA while the spindle assembly is still attached. Looks like I need to remove it from the car.

mlukas161 · #9 11-10-2011, 04:37 PM

I just replaced the Thrust Arms, Bushings and Thrust Arm ball joints on our 2004 X3. removing those ball joints were definitely the hardest part of the job.

What worked for me was soaking the ball joint in PB Blaster and leting it sit overnight. I reattached the old thrust arm to the ball joint and used a small sledgehammer. It'll come out - but it took a good 45 minutes. Not a fun job.

TriX5 · #10 11-10-2011, 11:46 PM

Take off the brake caliper and disk. Remove the small bolts in the dust cover. Now you can turn the dust cover and give yourself access from the top both front and rear. Take a drift of 10 or 12 mm and a 5 pound hammer. If you soaked it for a night it should come out in about 5 or 10 minutes. Hammer from both sides on the top.

If you have the axle out of the hub it will be very easy but you need to go at it with a good sized hammer. I just did mine a week ago on the 4.4i and it is a bit of a chore but they do come out. I left my axles in the hubs. Good luck.

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