PRESSED-FIT BALL JOINTS

1 Some ball joints are press-fitted into a suspension arm, which means they are not so straightforward to renew as one that is secured with rivets or bolts. The following steps show how Herbie Hospital renews these ball joints on VW Beetles and Transporters. 2 Undo the ball joint’s securing nut, separate the thread (see Splitting Tips), then remove the suspension arm by undoing its securing bolt holding it in position on the end of the leaf springs. 3 On VW Transporters, use an angle grinder and cutting disc to remove a lip on the ball joint (thread side). This will enable the arm to be positioned on a vice and the ball joint removed in the next step. 4 Position the suspension arm in a vice with the ball joint facing down in the direction it has to be removed. Use a lump hammer to release it. This will require several wallops with the hammer, so make sure the vice can withstand the impact. 5 Once the ball joint has been removed, clean inside the housing with an abrasive paper (e.g. emery cloth) to remove any dirt and corrosion. Check the condition of the housing and suspension arm. 6 Trial fitting the new ball joint is always a good idea, making sure you know how it should locates and whether there is a specific position it should be fitted in. 7 The new ball joint will need to be press fitted into position using a hydraulic press. If you don’t have access to one, your local garage may be able to assist. 8 Fit a new rubber dust cover over the new ball joint’s thread, lightly packing it inside with multi-purpose grease. Secure the cover with a metal clip or plastic cable tie before refitting the arm.