(SUSPENSION/STEERING) Replacing Ball Joints

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Feb 8, 2006 | 01:58 PM

#26

64mgb

Thread Starter

Go Hawks!

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From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by skizzle84

I just went through redoing my suspension not long ago, and now I have to do it all over again because a friend wrecked my fb! and AH HH, those two bolts that connect the steering knuckle, along with the control arm bolt on the crossmember were HORRIBLE to get off. I ended up buying a torch to get them all off and it took so long. Would a shop be able to take them off a lot easier or would they just use the same method?

btw, thats a good step by step for anyone whos doing this. good job.

I'm surprised. My car had been sitting for a long time...many things were rusted tight and grease was dried out in a lot of places. But I don't remember these bolts causing me any problem. Of course, I probably used the impact wrench, but they came right out.

Rich

Feb 8, 2006 | 02:39 PM

#27

skizzle84

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From: Richmond, Virginia

what exactly is an impact wrench?

Feb 8, 2006 | 03:21 PM

#28

64mgb

Thread Starter

Go Hawks!

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From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by skizzle84

what exactly is an impact wrench?

It's an air driven "wrench" that basically hammers away at the bolt which allows you to loosen difficult bolts/nuts more easily.

Rich

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(SUSPENSION/STEERING) Replacing Ball Joints-impact.jpg

Feb 8, 2006 | 03:27 PM

#29

mazdaspeedrex

DIRTY RX

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 395

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From: Omaha, NE

Quote:

Originally Posted by skizzle84

what exactly is an impact wrench?

I hope you don't do your own work if you don't know that. Have you ever been to a tire shop or watched any type of racing? They use impact wrenches to get the lug nuts loose.

Feb 9, 2006 | 04:26 AM

#30

7aull

RX HVN

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From: Arizona

Thanks for taking the time to post 64mgb! Great pix!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Feb 9, 2006 | 08:14 AM

#31

skizzle84

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From: Richmond, Virginia

I'm learning, and yes I do my own work. So too bad for your hopes.
Thanks 64mgb.

Feb 9, 2006 | 09:20 AM

#32

85rotarypower

love the braaaap

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 3,771

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From: Bognor, Ontario

I did the balljoints on my car a while ago. The car hasn't moved much recently, but I do have roughly 3000 miles on them. The car has about 180K miles (275k KM) and I didn't tack the ball joints or put any clip on them. No loosening at all. Personally, I wouldn't tack them at all. After seeing what kinda heat can be generated from tack welding, I wouldn't want to even attempt it, not to mention trying to get them out again. The heat would probably take about 20K miles off the life of the ball joint.