control arm bushings?

[bcredliner]

I can recall shade tree DIY projects that became a nightmare without the right tools. So for many years I have purchased, sometimes rented, the right tool(s) first. Still big labor $$$ savings and new tools are shiny and pretty. There's cheap fast and easy. You can only pick two.

[Riggodeaux]

You guys are a step ahead of me. My problem is the tension strut/thrust arm adhering to the ball joint [part 6 to 15 on the realoem diagram]; its free at the bushing end, but clinging to the ball joint. I'm not yet to extracting the ball joint itself after removing the 2 female torx bolts. I have the tie rod removed at its ball joint end and out of the way, and the control arm/wishbone [10 on the realoem] off. The Advance Auto pitman arm tool is a consideration; I slammed away with a small sledge on the tension strut, to no effect so far. I'm replacing everything, so I'm not troubled by damaging the arm or the ball joint, so long as I can get it out. Is it just me having the serious issue with getting the thrust arm off the ball joint? [not is removed]

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

You guys are a step ahead of me. My problem is the tension strut/thrust arm adhering to the ball joint [part 6 to 15 on the realoem diagram]; its free at the bushing end, but clinging to the ball joint. I'm not yet to extracting the ball joint itself after removing the 2 female torx bolts. I have the tie rod removed at its ball joint end and out of the way, and the control arm/wishbone [10 on the realoem] off. The Advance Auto pitman arm tool is a consideration; I slammed away with a small sledge on the tension strut, to no effect so far. I'm replacing everything, so I'm not troubled by damaging the arm or the ball joint, so long as I can get it out. Is it just me having the serious issue with getting the thrust arm off the ball joint? [not is removed]

It's because you are using one of those cheap ass made in China Harbor freight ball joint separator. Look at the ball joint separator tool that I posted. I used it when I did the suspension on my E34, and used it to replace the thrust arms on my X5 last week. Less than two minutes of cranking the ball separator with my torque wrench and the ball joint was separated from the thrust arm.

[Riggodeaux]

I hear you, upallnight, but again, its not extracting the ball joint - I'm not there yet - its getting the thrust arm off the BJ, having already removed the nut from the BJ shaft. Your post has a picture, but not your source for the ball joint puller that worked for you, I assume in separating the thrust arm from the ball joint as well as removing the BJ [15] from the spindle. Your pic suggests its a Home Depot order item; I see a similar version on Amazon, but several look alike what's your source?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Six hours???? Under two minutes.

Video on removing the ball joint on the thrust arm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ek...ature=youtu.be

Yep, 6 hours... tell me about it, haven't felt like that much of a noob since learning to wrench on my first BMW. My ball joint was frozen in the knuckle/spindle AND in the arm. The hammer on the arm finally got the ball joint to come out of the spindle and then I had a shop press the ball joint out of the arm in addition to installing the new bushing. Seriously, the worst suspension job I've dealt with on 15+ BMW's. Broke a harbor freight puller and broke an Oreilly's seperator.

It sounds like Riggodeux is having the same problem I did with the ball joint not popping out of the tension arm.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

I hear you, upallnight, but again, its not extracting the ball joint - I'm not there yet - its getting the thrust arm off the BJ, having already removed the nut from the BJ shaft. Your post has a picture, but not your source for the ball joint puller that worked for you, I assume in separating the thrust arm from the ball joint as well as removing the BJ [15] from the spindle. Your pic suggests its a Home Depot order item; I see a similar version on Amazon, but several look alike what's your source?

I brought my ball joint separator from a tool shop, but I think I saw the same tool at Sears. The photo was what I found on the net and looks exactly like my tool. I think OTC sells a similar ball joint separator. I learn from my dad to buy good quality tools if I wanted to work on cars

OTC ball joint separator similar to mine ball joint separator used on a BMW E46.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBy1EEksUFM

[Scott ZHP]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Goodwood??? I hate you!

Been to Goodwood twice (stuck around Europe after the Le Mans 24hr in '04 & '08).
No better automobile event on the PLANET!!!

I was there in 1999 or 2000, can't remember, I have the guide somewhere. Was working in London at the time, a friend said "Hey, you wanna go watch some cars drive up a hill?"

"Ok".

I had no idea what it was. One of these years, I'm going to take my son and go back.

I had no problem getting the ball joint separated, or the joint out of the knuckle. But I had to drill the remnants of the Torx stub out of the knuckle after the bolt was frozen.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

I was there in 1999 or 2000, can't remember, I have the guide somewhere. Was working in London at the time, a friend said "Hey, you wanna go watch some cars drive up a hill?"

"Ok".

I had no idea what it was. One of these years, I'm going to take my son and go back...........

"Hey, you wanna go watch some cars drive up a hill?"

That is the biggest understatement ever spoken! He should have said, want to see some of the rarest race & street vehicles race up a crazy narrow estate driveway, some driven by the most respected drivers on the planet!

I took my oldest son both times (12 the 1st trip, 16 the 2nd trip). He thought the Sebring 12hr was incredible, until he saw Le Mans & Goodwood.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

I was there in 1999 or 2000, can't remember, I have the guide somewhere. Was working in London at the time, a friend said "Hey, you wanna go watch some cars drive up a hill?"

"Ok".

I had no idea what it was. One of these years, I'm going to take my son and go back.

I had no problem getting the ball joint separated, or the joint out of the knuckle. But I had to drill the remnants of the Torx stub out of the knuckle after the bolt was frozen.

I was at a Lotus Owners meet at Goodwood in the 80's. Spent way too much money on Lotus souvenirs.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

I hear you, upallnight, but again, its not extracting the ball joint - I'm not there yet - its getting the thrust arm off the BJ, having already removed the nut from the BJ shaft. Your post has a picture, but not your source for the ball joint puller that worked for you, I assume in separating the thrust arm from the ball joint as well as removing the BJ [15] from the spindle. Your pic suggests its a Home Depot order item; I see a similar version on Amazon, but several look alike what's your source?

The video I posted is all about getting the thrust arm off the ball joint. At the end of the video you can see that the ball joint is still attach to the spindle/upright, but the thrust arm is off the ball joint..