HELP! Cant separate upper A arm from hub!

V-Spec · Postby **V-Spec** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:13 pm

Hi everyone. Hope we're all enjoying this awsome day outside (Brisbane anyway)

I'm fitting my new coilovers only I've run into a problem. As the topic states, I can't seem to separate the upper A arm from the hub. In fact all the ball joints connected to the front hubs are seized! :shock:

Have tried shocking the parts apart with a hammer and even got desperate and used the separater fork which destroyed one of the boots. Anybody have any ideas? Please help! I'm running out of light and I really need this done. The rears were an absolute breeze but these frozen balls joints have taken at least 3+hours out of my day.

Postby **Boyracer** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:17 pm

Don't seperate that joint..undo the 3 bolts that hold the lower ball joint to the lower arm,much easier and you probably won't get the shocks out if you just undo the top ball joint.

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:17 pm

Why don't you remove the bottom instead?

Leave the ball joint attached to the upright, and remove the bolt that holds the upright to the lower arm. Unbolt the shock, prise the lower arm down a bit and you will see a second bolt hidden inside the arm. Undo that bolt and the upright will slide out of the lower arm without removing either balljoint.

Of course if you've buggered one of the boots it'll have to be sorted eventually

V-Spec · Postby **V-Spec** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:22 pm

Thanks fellas for the mega quick response. Will have a shot now. Keyboard is getting a good greasing up!

V-Spec · Postby **V-Spec** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:45 pm

THANKS A MILLION BABALOUIE & BOYRACER!

Your advice worked a treat

Finished up in the workshop and even managed to clean up the tools by 7pm. Gonna take it for a light burl later to let them settle and get a bit used to the new ride. I reckon I'd still be pondering what the hell to do if it wasn't for both of yoiur advice.

Any clues on how I'm going to separate the upper A arm from the hub? Seeing as though I got impatient, used the fork and busted up that upper boot, it looks like it's going to need replacing in the near future.

Thanks again guys

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:50 pm

V-Spec wrote:Any clues on how I'm going to separate the upper A arm from the hub? Seeing as though I got impatient, used the fork and busted up that upper boot, it looks like it's going to need replacing in the near future.

Yeah.....you give it to a mechanic, and then walk very far away so that you can't hear the sounds he will make when he hits it with a really big hammer

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:21 am

Another method - remove the long bolt at the inner end of the lower control arm. Requires removing the plastic engine pan and unbolting the front sway, but very easy nonetheless.

Postby **Boyracer** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:51 am

If the fork thing didn't work you just have to whack it with a big hammer,it is a tapered shaft,sometimes you will have to put something solid behind it while you hit the other side so it gets a good shock.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:53 am

For some reason I can never seperate the top ball joint on NB's. A quick tap with a hammer and the NA's fall to pieces.

V-Spec · Postby **V-Spec** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:14 pm

NOOOOOOOOO! Seems like the general advice is a BIG HAMMER. With my shonky aim, I'd be closer to doing panel work than suspension work

Thankfully Mr Generous Anonymous has offered me the use of a job specific tool to fix this. I won't mention his name for privacy sake but he can post if he wishes.

Thanks again for everyone's input on this

Has made the coilover experience just that little bit better!

PS. The MX is truly ALIVE in every aspect now. Bang for buck, I can only imagine this to be the most rewarding modification