Cutting through a ball joint?

Rorie · Apr 27, 2016

My a-frame ball joint in my disco 1 is goosed. Trying to remove it but the ball is spinning as i turn the nut!

I have tried most of the evening to some how cut the nut off, or cut through the ball joint... but i am having little luck with my angle grinder due to the tight space.

Any suggestions?! I was wondering if i could use my reciprocating saw, but i don't know if any 'metal' blades will be good enough to cut through the ball joint?

Dippypud · Apr 27, 2016

Rorie said:
My a-frame ball joint in my disco 1 is goosed. Trying to remove it but the ball is spinning as i turn the nut!

I have tried most of the evening to some how cut the nut off, or cut through the ball joint... but i am having little luck with my angle grinder due to the tight space.

Any suggestions?! I was wondering if i could use my reciprocating saw, but i don't know if any 'metal' blades will be good enough to cut through the ball joint?

Try a good sharp chisel on one of the nut flats ... or try unbolting the top bracket from the frame arms and have more room ...

potus · Apr 27, 2016

Try a nut splitter

Flossie · Apr 27, 2016

It bolts off the axle casing doesn't it?
4 hex bolts?
Been a while though, not looked at mine for years and mines a 110 Salisbury...

Marmaduke · Apr 27, 2016

The way I have done this in the past is drill a series of holes into a flat side then turn it 180 degrees and repeat then smack the holes with a chisel and the bolt will split

Brown · Apr 28, 2016

When I did mine, the nut wouldn't undo, so I started chiselling it which didn't go very fast, then I drilled a few small holes in the nut (as per Marmaduke) and the chisel cut it much more easily.

On Salisbury axles the tapered seat can be unbolted, but on others it is merely welded to the axle casing. So you've got to do it in situ
Here's mine afterwards:

At least if the tapered pin is loose in its seat, you won't have any trouble getting it out.

Rorie · Apr 28, 2016

Thanks for the help folks - i'll get the chisel out tonight and see what I can do!

With the extreme movement I was getting from the a-frame, I wonder if the mount for the ball joint could have worn / widened with all the kicks back and forth? Obviously if the hole is elongated I know I have problems, but if its round, do I assume its ok? I guess trying to get info on what size the hole should be will be difficult!

Brown · Apr 28, 2016

Well, the main thing is that the new one pulls in tight and doesn't spin. If the old one has been very loose it might have deformed the seat, but if it's only a little bit loose - just enough to rotate - you might be alright.

Cutting through a ball joint?

Rorie

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Dippypud

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potus

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Flossie

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Marmaduke

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Brown

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Rorie

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Brown

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