A Frame ball joint bracket query.

Evening folks, got a query regarding the Fulcrum bracket on my 1989 - 90 , managed to get the old ball joint out with the persuader, but on looking at the splines inside the bracket they have just about disappeared, you can just make it out on the photo. ( photo will not upload atm working on it)
So my question is, does the bracket need replacing? or will the 2 bolts and what is left of the splines on the old one do the job?
Any advice is much appreciated.
Lasher

Photo

Last time I tried removing the ball joint, I damaged the rubber boot on the new one refitting it, so only change the whole unit as one these days.

Def90man said:

Last time I tried removing the ball joint, I damaged the rubber boot on the new one refitting it, so only change the whole unit as one these days.

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I’m amazed they got the old 1 out. Even with my multi sized hammers it did not move.

I also just changed the complete unit. A lot easier

Have a feeling I will be doing the same, usual case on my truck, you think you are doing one job but it turns in to two

lasher99 said:

Have a feeling I will be doing the same, usual case on my truck, you think you are doing one job but it turns in to two

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Always look for the easier method for repairs. Never look at the cheapness,you pay twice as much to fix it or buy again.

now if you have a big press you may get the joint into place. Don’t worry about the lack of spline depth,the 2 bolts & retainer holds the joint in place

Thanks for the advice Hicap, I'll give it a go in the morning, always up for a challenge

Use some longer bolts/studding to line the holes up, gently tighten them but not too much, then hammer the ball joint in with a spacer that goes around the rubber boot. When the bolts get loose tighten them a bit more and repeat with hammer.
Putting the new joint in the freezer over night will make it easier for you.

I reused my bracket but next time I have to do that job will replace it. Getting the new one in was easier than getting the old one out but its a little tricky getting the holes to line up perfectly.
Getting the old one out took about an hour with a lump hammer, I dont think I've ever hit anything as hard as that before or since

Last time I did this I bought the ball joint and bracket complete On the old one I cut the lugs off the ball joint and put it in my hydraulic press. I gingerly cranked the handle until the gauge was registering 25 tons, well into the red section on the dial. I gave up because I was bending the press frame. On getting it out, I discovered that I'd put a curve in the bracket, so it wouldn't have been any good anyway. So it's probably better to buy the whole unit. I dunno if I'd trust a casting that had had that much stress on it.

Ordered a new bracket and ball joint, I've cleaned and sprayed up the old bracket, just need some longer bolts and a suitable hub nut socket to try and press the Lemforder ball joint I purchased back in (as per Busterbus's tutorial), I can then keep that as a spare.
Thanks for the advice folks

On a separate note, how difficult are the upper A frame bushes to replace? thinking of doing it while I'm on the case, I can start soaking the old bolts while the new ball joint arrives.

You might as well have a go at the bushes whilst everything is apart. I found it easiest to take out the three bolts each side that hold the brackets onto the chassis and then you can work on them on the ground. The old bushes can be difficult to extract, but if you've got the ball joint out of its bracket it shouldn't be impossible. Might be a good idea to get new bolts too, ready for reassembly, as the old ones are very likely to be badly rusted.

Do you own a hydrolic press?

A-frame bushes, the double layered ones?
Easy job, did mine in under 10-mins each.

Fitted SuperPro replacements.

Hicap phill said:

Do you own a hydrolic press?

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Do not have one myself Hicap, a mate has one round the corner but he was busy this weekend, but all good for next week.

Nice work Litch, I don't usually have an issue with bushes it's the rusty nuts and bolts, especially in awkward to reach places.
Fingers crossed that a weeks worth of WD40 will make things easier for me.

lasher99 said:

Photo

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I did not think the casting had splines in it, are they definitly part of the casting or just left over imprints form the one son the ball joint which is splined?

Last time I did mine I had to grind off one layer of the splines on the new ball joint as no matter what I tried I could not get it to press into place. Having done this it was still a tight fit and as @Hicap phill has said the botls and retainer will hold it in place mong enough for the mud and rust to lock it fully into place making it difficult to remove next time! If you have managed to get the old one out you have done the most difficult part!

As above on the upper bushes they are no harder than any of the old fashioned metalstic bushes. Remove the centre, cut through the outer carefully and chisel out. It is the fitting of new ones that is difficult unless you go down the polybush route. These days I don't bother cutting the centers out an usually just burn them out with a blowtorch!

Thanks for the insights Dag, I have ordered an aftermarket Fulcrom and ball joint as a back-up, but the plan is to try and fit the OEM joint I bought back into the original bracket at the weekend and re-install it.
Then swap out the upper bushes and clean up the A frame and paint.
Oh and change the Fuel filter to pump fuel-line that has just started to leak quite badly, does it ever end!

Update, all the A Frame components now sorted last week , Lemforder ball joint pressed in the original bracket, new bushes fitted, the arms all cleaned and painted up.
Top Tip! make sure you have the arms on the right side before you nip everything up seriously slows you down.
But happy with everything, on a side note the back-up ball joint/bracket from Britpart I purchased was exceptionally stiff compared to the Lemforder, could hardly get it to budge, think I made the right choice in brands.