Ball joint splitter

[Garth]

Can any one reccomend a decent ball joint splitter

[Range Rover Blues]

Depends what you are doing, I like the Sykes Pickavant 'claw' type, that pushes the end of the bolt with a leg whilst supporting the balljoint in a claw, this way you don't damage the rubber boot.  If that won't fit you will have to use the hammer-in type of claw that invariably ruins the rubber boot, I have one of each (lent my first one and never got it back) although I own several.  I also have a little one that covers the balljoint and forces the bolt out with a screw, great for trackrod ends but nowt else, looks like a nutcracker.

Horses for courses!

[hobbit]

or the old 2 pound copper headed hammer, with an upwards pressure from a jack, watch them fingers though  :x

[karloss]

Apply leverage with something suitable, crowbar etc. Whack side of whatever the stem goes through, joint springs apart. Easy.

[hobbit]

Had to do it late friday afternoon, went out for half an hour lovely knocking under the floor on the passenger side, one radius arm bush kept a knocking!

Quick strip job, gets it all undone, then realised I had to drop the steering bar joint to get the flamin thing out, pin & nut off rod end, two whacks with knockin stick, job done, even got the thing to wind back up without spinning on the track rod end when we put it back together, looks like a polybush kit on the shopping list next week now

[Garth]

Cheers Range Rover Blues

Found the type you ment in Halfords looks good so its now in my tool box
now I am armed and ready.

Thanks again

[Garth]

Hi Kev

I recently changed to Deflex bushes on the front end and as I didnt have a ball joint splitter I managed to change Radius arms without removing steering arms.  Carefull use of trolly jack and twisting the radius arms (bottom inwards) managed to get them off and back on.
See my posts posts on steering clattering
Dave

[hobbit]

There are plenty of ways to remove the joints, I must have over the past 10 years bought half a dozen splitters of various types, always comes down to the same thing, when I need one, there is no way on earth that I will find one!

But can normally lay hands on a good hammer

[Garth]

I hate the bl***dy things and will do anything to avoid them

HMM why did I buy a Rangey then

[hobbit]

You could always go back to a boring mundane road only car, but would you really want too  :twisted:

I look at it this way, I find it easier to work on a disco/rangie/series vehicle than a compact, plastic covered car. There is more chance you can reach what you are trying to get to, but then again its the other bits you have to do but curse and break trying to do, then finding what else needs doing as you work on one job

[Garth]

Funny you should say that

I had to change the bottom ball joint on my wifes clio at the weekend and it was very easy as the shaft whent into a split housing so it can be streched it took me about 20 mins to change.

BUT!!! it took me 2 hours to tighten the alternator belt a couple of weeks ago after I had took half the side of the car off

[Range Rover Blues]

That's why we call it Land Rover special tool No.1 (the BF Hammer).