Evening

Following on from last night, I've removed my front hubs tonight.

My ball joint splitter broke in half so I resorted to the big hammer. Most enjoyable and relaxing after last night's nightmares !!!

Having had a cuppa I'm now a bit worried that having bashed the living daylights out of the ball joints and a few smacks to the upright through poor aim.

Is it likely I have damaged my uprights ? Can you do anything like magnafluxing (?) to check for cracks etc anyway as they are nearly 20 years old now ?

Or am I worrying far too much ?

Donor is MX5 by the way.

Thanks
Paul

To remove the ball joint from the upright you should be hitting the upright, not the ball joint. You are highly unlikely to damage the upright but very likely to damage the 'joint by hitting it. Should only take a couple of strikes.

adrian

ok thanks.

So not likely to have damaged upright which is good.

I was thinking about changing the ball joints for new on the kit so guess I may have just forced my hand there.

Is it damage to the threaded part or to the actual ball joint itself ? Could I repair the thread ?

thanks
Paul

Both depending on where you hit it. If you hit the thread it's unlikely that you can rethread it and have a good enough result.

Personally I'd just fit new ones anyway. Safety critical part so why risk it.

adrian

PS. To separate hub and joint, hit the hub at 90' to the centre line of the joint and the shock wave will release the taper. Big hammer, firm blow.

Thanks Adrian.

You're right to say replace them anyway.

cheers
Paul