Rear axle/ a frame ball joint removal - HELLLLP!!!

[Geoff30]

Trying to remove my rear axle on a 200tdi however I cannot get the a frame balljoint nut undone, I know that it is a 30mm nut, however it does not seem that a socket can be used so it is spanner time. I bought correct spanner drowned nut in WD40 but cannot get it to budge 
It appears that the nut it so rotten that there is nothing left of it, any ideas how I could remove it???   

[J.D.]

Try a spanner with a length of scaff bar or another spanner on the end for more leverage or just cut it with a grinder or nut splitter mate.

Or, undo the four bots above the ball joint on the a frame and take the axle off that way.

[Geoff30]

Will have to try a nut splitter, as cannot seem to get a spanner to grip and thats without the scaff attached 
I have undone the nuts above the ball joint but the bolts appear to be rusted in place, how much hard work is this proving???? changing the front one was a whole lot easier 

[peasey]

When i have probs like this i get a pair of stilsons on it but acess maybe an issue here as i cant remember from when i did mine

[Geoff30]

Had not thought of stilsons!!! might have look tomorrow see if I can get a grip with a pair!

[hairyasswelder]

Will have to try a nut splitter

Would have thought access would be tight for a nut splitter? Maybe a good quality sharp chisel? (careful  ;))

When I did mine a 30mm 1/2"drive socket fit if I knocked the socket on first then put a 4" extension onto it then attatched the rattle gun (air impact wrench)

[Geoff30]

I am coming to the conclusion that a chisel is definitely needed for the one currently on my landy, but the new axle I will try knocking a socket onto 1st. Wondering if I should ever have started this  :'(

[stuntman]

Ah, but you'll have a smug sense of achievement when it's done  :P

[Porny]

The other way to get the bolt off is a drill...

Centre punch the middle of one of the bolt flats, and keep drilling though the nut, the ball joint thread, and the other side of the bolt.  Start off with a smallish drill bit, and keep going up in size until you get to the edge of the bolt (or run out of drill bits) and then with a chisel it should be easy to cut through the rest of the nut.  You've just got to get the ball joint out of it's socket then!

The only downside is that this will trash your ball joint... but then if it's that corroded, it will probably need changing anyway.

In all honesty, it's probably easier to remove the two long bolts that go through the a-frame arms and the ball joint mounting/casting and get a replacement ball joint and casting for the new axle.


Ian

[lukeLR90]

use hammer and a chisel on the end of the nut thread and hit it

[Disco_Stu]

Just in case....

IIRC it's a castellated nut, did you remove the split pin?

[Geoff30]

Just in case....

IIRC it's a castellated nut, did you remove the split pin?

lol yes I have sort of removed it, the ends fell apart same as the nut.

Have decided that I going to remove Aframe and have a new balljoint pressed in. It just so happens I am doing a refurb at a bus garage and they have a press and no bosses in on a Sat  :dance:

[Geoff30]

OK old axle is off now, new ball joint is installed, so just got to put the lot back together, hope to do it tomorrow, trying to decide if I should do a lift while car is in bits.