"Richard" <richardsemail
[email protected]> wrote in
news:
[email protected]:
> How easy is it to change the steering box drop arm ball
> joint on a 90? Can the ball joint be replaced with the arm
> in place or does the arm have to come off. The last time I
> took an arm I had to hire a 10ton puller. Thanks
> Richard
>
>
Well, I did it for the first time recently and it wasn't a
problem. The answer is technique.
I thought I would pop the ball joint out just to see what
problems there were before I bought new parts. Getting it out is
a dawdle. Getting the new one in is another matter as I soon
discovered!
I used an old socket and a G clamp to compress the joint so I
could get the O ring out, then almost everything follows. The
big problem is getting the "liner" out. There is not enough
"lip" to get any purchase on and I believe you need a special
puller. But I did a Google and a previous poster suggested
leaving it in as this is not what wears.
Putting all the new parts back in is again a matter of fiddling
with the G clamp and socket so you can compress the internal
spring and get the O ring in. No need to remove the drop arm at
all.
Just my experience and some may call it a botched job -- but it
does seem to have worked. No more rattling. BTW, I've kept the
removed parts as they didn't seem to be worn. Maybe it is the
spring which becomes fatigued? Anyone?
Derry