#1: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 12:16 pm ---- Been trying to remove lower arm ball joint from the swivel hub most of the afternoon but just cannot shift it.
Chained a bar to lower arm and levered using a block of wood as Haynes manual suggests but 13 stone on the end of the bar still wouldn't shift it.
Just had another look at Haynes and for n/s it says steering wheel should be turned on full right lock? Would this make a difference?
Any help appreciated as thinking of setting light to it atm
#2: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Seabook, Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 12:23 pm ---- just use a ball joint splitter or cut off the wishbone.
#3: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 12:33 pm ---- Used a splitter on track rod ball joint, but my splitter wont fit in minimal gap on lower arm.
Cutting wishbone a bit too drastic for me.
#4: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: DanT, Location: Torbay, EnglandPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 12:54 pm ---- I tend to spray some gt-85 or similar on the ball joint where the metal part sits in the hub, and give it a little tap up and down a few times with a decent hammer, obviously not going crazy.
Then a decent bar on it, not had an issue yet although some have been fairly stubborn!
Obviously if replacing the bottom arms its quicker to just cut the old ones off as mentioned.
#5: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Steve206, Location: UKPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 1:33 pm ---- Ball joint splitter will get it out in 30 seconds. You could also compress the spring to take the tension off.
#6: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 1:48 pm ----
Steve206 wrote:
Ball joint splitter will get it out in 30 seconds. You could also compress the spring to take the tension off.
Think I'll get a scissor type splitter as got the other joint off with vice type splitter in seconds.
#7: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:54 pm ----
Steve206 wrote:
Ball joint splitter will get it out in 30 seconds. You could also compress the spring to take the tension off.
I did that and after some anger I hit itt so hard with the hammer the spring kicked out and pulled the shaft out. By the time I got a pan the contents of my gearbox was on the drive.
#8: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: nellyhaggis, Location: SheffieldPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:49 am ---- Try jacking up the hub for the refit.
Should slip in easy enough.
#9: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: gazza82, Location: South BucksPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:15 am ----
Mounty wrote:
Steve206 wrote:
Ball joint splitter will get it out in 30 seconds. You could also compress the spring to take the tension off.
Think I'll get a scissor type splitter as got the other joint off with vice type splitter in seconds.
Take the pinch bolt right out and put a chisel in the gap and tap a couple of time to open the split up a bit more. then try the bar again ...
#10: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 10:16 am ---- P**sed off now, bought a scissor splitter from Halfrauds today and jaw is too small . It was the biggest they had, 18mm I think.
Got a chisel into the pinch bolt and opend that up a bit and had one more go with bar, not moved a mm.
#11: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:32 pm ---- Anyone know what size jaw i need on a splitter to get this ball joint out?
#12: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: usher, Location: northallertonPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:59 pm ---- you tried getting someone to hit the hub with a hammer while bouncing on the bar and is the strut out or atleast compressed spring
thats what i had to do with the old ones new ones were easy
#13: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:03 pm ---- May try that, waiting for another pair of hands. Strut is nearly out but not quite.
#14: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: usher, Location: northallertonPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:52 am ---- take it out it will help
#15: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 11:57 am ---- Another pair of hands and out it popped, b*****d thing!! Now what size socket do i need on the hub nut as 32mm is the biggest I've got Is it a 34mm??
#16: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: usher, Location: northallertonPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:37 pm ---- think so how come your removing it tho
#17: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 2:35 pm ---- CV boot is badly split so gonna replace it while I've got it stripped down. So is it defo a 34mm as need to buy one tomorrow.
#18: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: usher, Location: northallertonPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 4:06 pm ---- dont quote me but i think it is, keep the recipt
haynes or service box dont mention size
#19: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: Mounty, Location: United KingdomPosted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 5:22 pm ---- Measured and bought a 35mm socket. Think it might be 34mm now??
Anyhow, impact gun razzed it off in a couple of secs so all good.
Put it all back together today but noticed Haynes 'comic' manual mentions a little guard that protects the ball joint from heat off disc brakes. My GTi doesn't have a guard on either side so just wondered whether it never had them or someone hasn't replaced them?
#20: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: DanT, Location: Torbay, EnglandPosted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 5:42 pm ----
Mounty wrote:
Measured and bought a 35mm socket. Think it might be 34mm now??
Anyhow, impact gun razzed it off in a couple of secs so all good.
Put it all back together today but noticed Haynes 'comic' manual mentions a little guard that protects the ball joint from heat off disc brakes. My GTi doesn't have a guard on either side so just wondered whether it never had them or someone hasn't replaced them?
Yes it should have the guards but they do tend to go missing when people replace bottom arms, either damaged or forgotten.
#21: Re: Lower arm removal - pain in a*se Author: chuckstar34, Location: London/Worcester/ GrimsbyPosted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:44 pm ---- Im with Seabook...grind the bugger to release teh tension...job done...they fall out. Hub...35 seems to be the one we all love to use. See other forum topic covering this.
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. It was the biggest they had, 18mm I think.
Is it a 34mm??
