I have been landed the wonderfull job of changing the engine of No 1 son's, Mk 5 Diesel Escort van.

I have come to the removey drive shaft bit

For the life of me, I am unable to sepperate the lower ball joints.

I have changed a number of joints, gearboxes, driveshafts & lower wishbones over the years. All on the Escort.
This is the first time I have had this problem.

I normally. Remove the pinch bolt. Spread the Joint's mounting point a tiny bit with a small wedge. ( I do mean a tiny bit )
Then lever the lower wishbone donward to sepperate the joint.
Swing the strut & hub assembly outwards to remove the drive shaft from the hub, once free lever the driveshaft out of the gearbox.

I know the ball joint is loose in the hub as I can see some movement.

The joint just will not sepperate

Any tips would be most welcome

Ronnie

try using a long pole/bar put it on top of the wishbone and slide it through from the front and once you have some of it under the body of the car lever down on the bit sticking out from the front of the car should give you enough leverage to get it out

Davie

ps just watch you knuckles

Try putting the van on stands under the chassis to support it. Then jack the hub up and down as needed as they may separate easily when the suspension is part or fully compressed.

i'm with davie.

If it got in, it can get out.

If not the friendly way, try the hard one!

quote:

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Originally posted by t.j.
i'm with davie.

If it got in, it can get out.

If not the friendly way, try the hard one!

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Even with the pinch bolt type I normally use a a wedge type ball joint splitter with a long handle just to waggle/lever it clear.


In problems cases I just take the whole corner off at the strut top mounting and wishbone pivots -- gives you loads of room to work.

I hit it with the hammer a few times then wedge a scaffolding pole above the bottom arm and under the floor and get someone to jump on it whilst I pull the strut/hub back out of the way