Borrow Front Ball Joint Press tool
 

Anyone want to loan or rent me their front ball joint press tool?

I'm in Rathdrum Idaho 83858.

I will pay shipping both ways and a fee if needed.

Let me know

Jim

I was able to pick one up at my local harborfreight tool store (cheap) and grind it a bit to fit! You may be able to go this route without buying a higher-dollar "proper" tool

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...a0e0977d4a.jpg


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Great idea, I didn't think to look at HF. Any tips for job? I'm replacing the thrust bushings, I have a hydraulic press to push old bushings out an new ones in. My X5 just turned over a 100,000 miles a month ago. The bushings have been in poor condition for about four months.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Jim

Borrow Front Ball Joint Press tool
 

I think the proper way is to get the assembly under a fair amount of pressure then *whack-it" with a hammer -vs- the alternative of letting the pressure-alone pop the thing loose. If you choose the latter it will release with a "Big Bang" and you may need to change you underwear afterwards. This was for the ballpoints on the lower control-arm - which is what I used that tool for

I did the thrust bushings on my E53 but opted to buy new arms with the bushings already installed To remove the ball joints attached to the thrust-arms (if the E70 is similar to E53) you actually hit the middle of the thrust arm with a BFH to pull the ball-joint out of the knuckle. You leave the ballpoint still attached to the thrust-arm but unbolt it from the knuckle.



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Like so......http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...3a60dc8c98.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...b0278536ba.jpg


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I just changed the arms entirely with new ones, dealing wtih balljoints and bushings is a PITA

Yeah, I'm wishing I would have got the complete arms now. I bought the bushings thinking my shop would do the work. They wanted $1000, so I figured I'd save a buck or two and do the work myself.

FYI- on ohter BMWs Ive done done both 'just the bush' and 'the whole arm'....I will push the old bush out, and a new one in...then the next time, replace the whole thing. The rationale is the arm then only sees the stress of a bush replacement 1x. Plus balljoints are good for at least 2x the rubber bush.

OP- there are a zillion places online to buy a suitable tool, amazon, etc. By the time you pay retail shipping 2x, just order one on amazon.