ball joint seperator
 

Hi Forum, Found plenty of reference to useing a ball joint seperator but.. what does it look like?? Can I get a generic tool or do I need a unique one for a 1996 960 ??:car: Appreciate your advice and regards, Bill

Bill, there are many different types of ball joint separator - visit www.sealey.co.uk for pictures - as to which one you require for the job I use two different ones depending on access and ball joint type.

The Sealey ones I use are AK382 £6.52 inc VAT + AK3811 £13.77 inc VAT available Mail Order from Silverstone Factors 01327 857174 post was £3 I think.

Cheers,
Pip

You can get a generic tool for this. It looks like a two pronged wedge that you hammer in to separate the joint. I used a couple of hammers. Place a club hammer against one side of the joint and then hit the opposite side with another hammer. The shock loosens the joint.

Migrator's two hammers method is best as using the two prong wedge destroys the rubber boot around the joint and you may want to re-use the joint.
Keith...

Yep 2 club hammers for me too give it a nice whack and it pops. If it's a real bugger loosen the nut till it's flush with the end of the threads and rest one on the nut then hit it with the other hammer. But from the side usually works.

Hope it's ok if I ask a general non-Volvo question about ball joints on here, first time I've seen ball joints come up in 7/9 techy section. From day one I bought the van I've been told by everyone that drives my Merc camper that the ball joints are siezed/seizing/partially siezed. It doesn't have power steering and is very very heavy but the steering is also very very stiff, wanders and masses of play, bloody hard work to drive. Anyways, what I'm always wondering, since I've had the van I've had her mot'd at two different mot stations, one very finiky and strict, one a bit easier going but neither of them have failed or put ball joints on advisories. Any ideas why this would be? Is this not a fault that would show up on mot?

And is this the same tool/methods that you use to remove siezed ball joints that we're talking about here please?

Sounds more like you have kingpins than ball joints laney, they used to seize up and can be a bit of a bugger to do. What van do you have and how old ?
Keith...

Duh, sorry, yes, king pins. 23 year old Merc 307D

Sorry, totally irrelevant to this thread

I think they will have grease nipples fitted, just give them some grease a couple of times a year.
Or if you are feeling athletic and own a good lump hammer:-
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/kingpin.pdf
Keith...