DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[mickthemaverick]

A short addendum to the ball joint story. In the middle of the task you may remember I measured the diameter of the joint with a view to getting a clamp around it to give me more purchase for pulling/bashing it out.

The ball joint diameter

I found what I wanted from a classic car parts chap in Borehamwood so I popped down to collect it yesterday morning but he had gone out, so I made use of the journey by collecting the DeWalt hammer and some other things from my man in Elstree.

This morning, having got the car back on the road, I set off to take back the DeWalt and collect the clamp which I will now put away for next time:

Designed for the clasp edge to fit around the lip in the joint!

Of course there was one more thing that I did after clearing up yesterday!!

A well earned tipple!!

[MattBLancs]

Think you've definitely earned that liquid refreshment, but I'm not sure about the one legged table you've set it down upon!

Back to the ball joint: I presume you've copper greased the living daylights out of its replacement/the hub's socket? It's probably on the category of "I hope to never have to do that job again, it's unlikely I would, but nothing wrong with making it easier in case I ever do!"

[mickthemaverick]

Back to the ball joint: I presume you've copper greased the living daylights out of its replacement/the hub's socket? It's probably on the category of "I hope to never have to do that job again, it's unlikely I would, but nothing wrong with making it easier in case I ever do!"

"I refer you to a comment I made a few moments ago" Sentence 1 of para 2 in my summary post Matt!!

[MattBLancs]

Ah, excellent. Missed the key bit of that nicely comprehensive description

[mickthemaverick]

Purely from curiosity I decided to see if the clamp idea might have worked. The clamp fits perfectly round the ball joint:

Snuugles into the joint moulding

And the flat side is flush with where the bottom of the knuckle would be so it could be fitted in situ.

Sits flush with the knuckle face

That would have been clamped up as tight as possible and then used to give an adjacent purchase for hammering with much better effect than on the arm where the rubber of the joint must absorb some of the impact effect. Next time!!

[bobins]

Behold ! The Mk II new and improved made with space-age components every expense spared Mercedes diagnostics machine

The box it's fitted in was what a small torch came in You'll notice the colour co-ordinated wires to match the German national flag

A fully functioning Mercedes diagnostics machine - own work

[myglaren]

Have you patented that Robin?

[bobins]

Do you reckon I'd earn my fortune selling versions of it ?
If I add the words 'Bespoke' and 'Artisan' in the advertising blurb that normally means you can double the price

[mickthemaverick]

Would that make it worth tuppence then?

[bobins]

Surely scrap copper's worth more than that ? Thruppence, maybe ?

[MattBLancs]

Looks like you were on the money with exhaust clamp sizing. As you say, actually being able the channel some of the hammer's kinetic energy in the right direction can be half the battle so think that would be a good help.

Only problem is likely have is an inability to lay my hands on that specific exhaust clamp if the need arrises again several years down the line!

Though I have part of a toolbox in which any "special tools" congregate so perhaps it would live in there and so be easily found one day.

[mickthemaverick]

Like you Matt I have a toolbox for specific tools which it will live in. I have been thinking about a tool inventory with colour codes for boxes. May get round to that this year!!

[mickthemaverick]

I put the new plastic staple gun to a proper job this morning. The inner wheel arch lost an argument with the chisel during the ball joint saga so it gave me the chance to use the gun in earnest:

MTMO

MTMO

MTMO

I have some plastic bumper filler ready for the repair I still need to do on the bumper so I'll finish this off when I have mixed some for that!!

[bobins]

Like you, Mick - I had a go at hot stapling the back of the battery cover trim piece in 'Helga' during the week. I think the hot stapler's already paid for itself for me as I've used it several times now

Hot stapled plastic repair - own work

[mickthemaverick]

I think we'll have to start classifying these hot staple repairs in order to convey some idea of what was involved. I'd say mine was class 8S while bobins' was a 5S. I'll let you detect how the classes are defined!!

Incidentally as a final final summary of the lower arm replacement, I replaced my temporary pinch bolt with the real thing this morning so I can now declare the MOT advisories totally dealt with as well as the full service so the car is ready for Wales!!