In the middle of tension strut change BUT...
 

I have removed the tension strut from the engine side of the car, and got the other end (hub side) of the tension strut off the ball joint. (My bj was so worn it didn't even need a puller, just dropped off when I pulled on the strut!)

I even have the 2 inverse torx screws out of the ball joint holding it to the hub.

SO, why the hell can't I get the ball joint out of the hub - there is nothing left holding it in yet it won't budge. Is it just corrosion fusion or am I missing a trick.

The repeat - the actual tension strut is completely off the car and the ball joint's retaining screws are out with no issues.

:dunno:

Anybody? I can't even put the new arm on the old bj as the bj stud is now cross threaded!

I'm pretty stuck until that bj comes out

Just had my ball joints done today,the guy who did them said that they were a complete pain in the a**e . He said one side was quite easy but the other was completely corroded in. He ended taking the hub off !!

Why did yours need doing? And how different is it after having them done? I'm contemplating just doing the arms and using the old bj's

I hadn't noticed the play in the ball joints because the bushes were so worn and taking all the slack out of the arm. I had the bushes replaced with powerflex and then it sounded like the suspension was gonna fall off. The stiffness of the polys must have transferred all the slack to the bj's. Even after the ball joints were replaced the mechanic said he still couldn't actually feel any play in them but on the road there is masses of difference. I don't have the annoying clunk it had developed since changing to polys and the car seems much more together.

Does it actually drive better on new bj's then or just sound better?

I've fitted the new arms to the old bj's and have no clunks at it has fixed my vibration I was having, so considering returning the bj's i bought and saving myself £70. Unless I thought it would make the car drive better… in which case I would keep em and pay a garage to fit them.