Almost got hurt today
#3
That new looking tool is a ball joint separator i borrowed from AZ. It worked perfectly on the other side with just a couple of shots with air socket. On the drivers side I was expecting the same. Had the shock lower bolt out, the upper control arm bolt loose but in place (thank goodness). After several hits with the air socket it had not come apart nearly as easily as the other side. Gave it one more good shot with my hand in the position shown in the picture above. Hand OVER the ball joint you are separating is a bad place to be as I rudely found out. The BJ let go with a loud noise and rotated straight up into the spring.
On the way past my fingers it took off a small piece of skin. If my hand had been 1/4 inch more to the right it would have for sure at least broken my middle finger. Hand should have 1) had a glove on it and 2) been on the other side of the tool out of harms way. Lesson learned.
On the way past my fingers it took off a small piece of skin. If my hand had been 1/4 inch more to the right it would have for sure at least broken my middle finger. Hand should have 1) had a glove on it and 2) been on the other side of the tool out of harms way. Lesson learned.
The following 3 users liked this post by funracer:
#6
Had similar situation too
Fun racer - glad you still have your fingers. I had a similar situation on exactly the same job.
I undid the nut on the Ball Joint but left it on loose but fully threaded. So when my ball joint “cracked” it stopped the A arm moving. But I had tough time getting the nut off and then the ball joint thread wouldn’t move out of the hole. So stupidly I attacked it with the hammer and the A arm went flying up missing my head which was to one side. Should have just “cracked” BJ again and/or realigned the wheel hub with a jack.
BTW Also make sure you grease the thread of the BJ separator, and wear eye protection. Good rule of thumb is to avoid using air tools in confined spaces. People have broken wrists if socket stops and air tool twists you!
I undid the nut on the Ball Joint but left it on loose but fully threaded. So when my ball joint “cracked” it stopped the A arm moving. But I had tough time getting the nut off and then the ball joint thread wouldn’t move out of the hole. So stupidly I attacked it with the hammer and the A arm went flying up missing my head which was to one side. Should have just “cracked” BJ again and/or realigned the wheel hub with a jack.
BTW Also make sure you grease the thread of the BJ separator, and wear eye protection. Good rule of thumb is to avoid using air tools in confined spaces. People have broken wrists if socket stops and air tool twists you!
#7
Trending Topics
#8
Yup! I see it!! I try to remember to leave the nut on so when it finally pops it only pops to the nut. Them use a jack to push things around to get things apart.
When **** goes bad, it happens way to fast to react!
a trick I learned was to use the press to put some force on the stud. Then rap the side of the ball joint with a hammer to shock it. It usually breaks free with just a slight amount of force
When **** goes bad, it happens way to fast to react!
a trick I learned was to use the press to put some force on the stud. Then rap the side of the ball joint with a hammer to shock it. It usually breaks free with just a slight amount of force
The following users liked this post:
Ltd (07-17-2019)
#9
#10
It's amazing how much we learn from a small patch of skin missing, and our brain say's Damn that was, (close, stupid, dumb, idiotic,) pick your own adjective. God usually looks out for us fools. Even with 40+ years of expierence. I still do dumb stuff, fortunately I still have all 10 fingers, 10 toes, and they all work. A little stiff now, and then but still functional. Thanks God!
Jack
Jack
#11
The shock from releasing tension can be pretty extreme. I took the nuts off my outer tie rods and tapped with a hammer but both were tight. Went to Auto zone to get a tie rod separator, put the separator on one side, it went "POOM!" went to do the other side and just the the shock popped the other tie rod end out.
On my 20 ton press. I keep getting a longer and longer handle. I'm up to about 3 feet
On my 20 ton press. I keep getting a longer and longer handle. I'm up to about 3 feet
The following 2 users liked this post by Ungn:
89 Jacobra (07-17-2019),
DavidYau (07-16-2019)
#12
#13
The air gun is an absolute must have for the spring compressors. But you are correct a socket wrench would have worked as well on the BJ and been safer.
#14
#15
The proper way to use that style of ball joint tool is with a socket wrench, not an air gun. You take the socket wrench and snug the BJ tool bolt to where you can't reasonably tighten it any more, then firmly tap the control arm at the ball joint with a (preferably) brass hammer. Tighten the bolt again, tap, tighten, tap etc.
By the third round of tightening/tapping, the ball joint should pop out, and not violently like with an air gun.
To tighten the ball joint down, if it spins in stead of tightening, find a suitable clamp to put downward pressure on the ball joint and then torque to value.
By the third round of tightening/tapping, the ball joint should pop out, and not violently like with an air gun.
To tighten the ball joint down, if it spins in stead of tightening, find a suitable clamp to put downward pressure on the ball joint and then torque to value.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bklynchris
S-Type / S type R Supercharged V8 ( X200 )
14
10-15-2011 07:48 AM
cpuranik
XJ ( X351 )
8
01-28-2011 12:31 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)