Impact Wrench To Remove C5 Front Lower Ball Joint??

[hamster99]

In checking over my front suspension this weekend (for a steering issue) I now find I need to replace the front lower balljoints on my C5 too!!

I have ordered a pair, and the special tool to undo them but seen lots of info that they are a bu99er to slacken off, involving huge amounts of brute force and potentially damaged tools (and knuckles!!).

One suggestion I've seen is to use an impact wrench tool. What's the view on this? Seems like it could be an easier option and, if so, does anyone have a recommendaton for which one I buy. As it's probably going to get little use I don't want to spend a huge amount of cash on it, or get the wrong one.

Rob

[Hell Razor5543]

Harryp managed to do it;
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 54#p424654" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[m300td]

I have brought one of the clarke impact wrench and used it very ssuccessfuly very good tool and it is surprisingly very powerful and gets used for quite a few other jobs on the car
just make sure that you buy a good quality special tool for the ball joints as the cheaper ones will sheer off the little lugs that fit into the ball joint
Malc

[addo]

Only way to go, if you have the folding to buy one.

[Stickyfinger]

got mine, a Air Powered one @ Lidl ...cheep and works great. Little used so it should last, but when needed it has proven to be great a help.
I do have a large compressor to run it But I have also used it with my small portable un-lubricated 20ltr one and for short use and it is fine (as is the Air Nailer by the same maker)

If you have a compressor, Air tools are a cost effective alternative to electric that at times offer more tool control as well. (Impact drivers/ Wire Brush/Disk Cutting/Paint Polishing/Wood / Alloys / light Sheet Drilling)

[addo]

I'm so lazy a battery one is looking better by the day.

[evilally]

I took an old torque wrench with a broken ratchet, and welded it solid. Extended with a 5ft scaffold it seems to shift anything Failing that, I usually put a bit of heat on the casting, then while holding as much torque as I can on the wrench, whack the casting with a hammer a few times. The combination of torque, heat, shock usually does the trick and is a lot easier than brute force on its own. I always did fancy one of those Clarke cordless impact guns though.....

[darbuck]

I done mine with aldi compressor and impact wrench better than giving yourself a heart attack and possibly damaging the lower arm

Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 903 using Tapatalk 2

[harryp]

Do envy you guys with an air compressor for all the tools mentioned by Stickyfinger . However no garage yet and nowhere to keep a compressor .

[darbuck]

Neither have I its in a coal bunker I dont use they're small enough

Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 903 using Tapatalk 2

[harryp]

Ah, if only I had a coal bunker - waiting for planning for a garage - but dont know if I would get the use out of one now to justify as the twigg is progressively getting shorter . Certainly would have over the last 40 years or so Hindsight being 20/20?????

[CitroJim]

Now that's a good use for a redundant coal bunker

Compressors are noisy old things and being away from the work area is a definite benefit...

[harryp]

re-reading m300td's post,

""just make sure that you buy a good quality special tool for the ball joints as the cheaper ones will sheer off the little lugs that fit into the ball joint""

Hope that wasn't experience . Would have thought it unlikely provided the tool was bolted on very tightly so as to give a good "sheer face" to the ball joint?

[CitroJim]

Hope that wasn't experience . Would have thought it unlikely provided the tool was bolted on very tightly so as to give a good "sheer face" to the ball joint?

Quite, I've stressed mine very many times over the years with very long breaker bars on some very tight joints and the little lugs are still pristine. I find it's the balljoint slots that give up first!

I always use the old balljoint nut to secure the removal tool tightly. It's a good idea to hacksaw of the Nyloc end of the nut to make it east to remove again otherwise the Nyloc bit can hold the nut very tightly and make it a bit awkward to shift again...

[harryp]

Jim,
Good point ref the nyloc!