control arm bushings?

[nebilex]

[QUOTE=xc17pilot;932581]I used the link nebelix posted on 3/22/13 as the basis to change my '03 X5 3.0's (135k mi) upper control arms (aka tension strut) this weekend. I also did the ball joint and found that using an air hammer made all the difference in getting that part out of the swivel joint/wheel hub.

QUOTE]

Hi XC pilot.. Did you remove the entire steerning knuckle to get the ball joint out? Did you try hammering the ball joint out before removing the entire knuckle? I'm tackling this in couple of weeks and i would like to avoid purchase a tool that I would use only one time. I am planning to spray penetrating out all over the knuckle and bolts etc for the next couple of days prior to tackling it.
Any recommendation you have before I tackle this?

[Gregory891]

I changed all of my front parts (tension strut bushing, control arms and ball joints) the other month. You can remove the ball joint w/o removing the entire knuckle. Penetrating oil will help. Heat can make the difference (I did without) but using an air impact hammer was THE way to get the ball joints out.

[upallnight]

[QUOTE=nebilex;933583]

Originally Posted by xc17pilot

I used the link nebelix posted on 3/22/13 as the basis to change my '03 X5 3.0's (135k mi) upper control arms (aka tension strut) this weekend. I also did the ball joint and found that using an air hammer made all the difference in getting that part out of the swivel joint/wheel hub.

QUOTE]

Hi XC pilot.. Did you remove the entire steerning knuckle to get the ball joint out? Did you try hammering the ball joint out before removing the entire knuckle? I'm tackling this in couple of weeks and i would like to avoid purchase a tool that I would use only one time. I am planning to spray penetrating out all over the knuckle and bolts etc for the next couple of days prior to tackling it.
Any recommendation you have before I tackle this?

Get yourself a BHF not one of those carpenter hammer, but a sledge hammer.

[nebilex]

Thanks for the response,^ ... I have a 5 lb sledge hammer but wasn't sure it's the safe thing to do :-)..don't want to cause other problem when hitting the ball joint. I called autozone and they rent the ball joint tool for about $100 for 90 days..so I will probably grab that. What's a BHF hammer?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by nebilex

Thanks for the response,^ ... I have a 5 lb sledge hammer but wasn't sure it's the safe thing to do :-)..don't want to cause other problem when hitting the ball joint. I called autozone and they rent the ball joint tool for about $100 for 90 days..so I will probably grab that. What's a BHF hammer?

Oops sorry it should have been BFH.

Big F--king Hammer.

[nebilex]

^ lol thanks, the plan is to go with the BFH and get the impact if all fails..

[bsprtsgrp]

If you just replace the Thrust Rod Bushings do you need to do a front-end alignment after?

[ake53]

Originally Posted by bsprtsgrp

If you just replace the Thrust Rod Bushings do you need to do a front-end alignment after?

yes.

[admranger]

Bumping this thread to check on the power flex folks -- still liking the polyurethane bushings?

I'm nearing 40k miles on my tension strut bushings and the originals were shot shortly thereafter. Have a bit of a 'clunk' over speed bumps, so if it isn't the sway bar end links, it's likely the tension strut bushings is my guess.

[BigBlack48is]

I am at 10k miles on purple FCAB install and couldn't be happier! no more clunk or looseness in the front end

next is going to be the purple sway bar bushings once it get's warmer out!