Ahrggg... pinch bolts for the upper ball joints... who designed these???
03-26-2008, 09:37 AM
#1
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Ahrggg... pinch bolts for the upper ball joints... who designed these???
If your steering is getting sloppy or noisy chek the link below.
Replaced control arms and ball joints this past weekend. Hit a dead stop on the driver side uppers because of a frozen pinch bolt. OK I think, I'll try stopping at 6 and not do the 2 that are stuck in.
Of course, those were the two worst ones. So I'm getting a shop to do the last two tommorow. Definately heed the 1st picture in the link if you are going to tackle this job. :-(<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/susp_whls_brake_steer/controlarmreplace.html">http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/susp_whls_brake_steer/controlarmreplace.html</a</li></ul>
Replaced control arms and ball joints this past weekend. Hit a dead stop on the driver side uppers because of a frozen pinch bolt. OK I think, I'll try stopping at 6 and not do the 2 that are stuck in.
Of course, those were the two worst ones. So I'm getting a shop to do the last two tommorow. Definately heed the 1st picture in the link if you are going to tackle this job. :-(<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/susp_whls_brake_steer/controlarmreplace.html">http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/susp_whls_brake_steer/controlarmreplace.html</a</li></ul>
03-26-2008, 10:15 AM
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if you really can't get it out, just drill it. Once you get about 1/2, you can drive it out.
I used a titanium bit. Once you get past the end in "into" the meat of the bolt it's not that bad.
This is probably what the shop will do, maybe trying some heat first.
Bob
This is probably what the shop will do, maybe trying some heat first.
Bob
03-26-2008, 12:01 PM
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just be careful. I drilled one out and ....
The drill bit "walked" a little bit and I ended up having to get a replacement hub! Be careful.
Most shops can press it out but you have to take everything (axle, brakes, etc) off the hub to bring it to a shop.
PITA!!! Bolt of death strike again!!!
Most shops can press it out but you have to take everything (axle, brakes, etc) off the hub to bring it to a shop.
PITA!!! Bolt of death strike again!!!
03-26-2008, 02:30 PM
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on the pre facelift cars, the knuckle is steel - I believe beginning.....
with the facelift cars the knuckle is aluminum or optionally aluminum , and that frozen pinch bolt does not happen.
At least the knuckle on my 2000 is aluminum and the bolt came out just fine.
But having the aluminum knuckle creates other issues, where the lower arms attach there is a steel insert for the balljoint to go into.
Which means I was not able to get the lower balljoints out easily - had to actually press them out - remove the steel insert from the old balljoint - then press the steel insert back into the aluminum knuckle - then install the new lower arms.
At least the knuckle on my 2000 is aluminum and the bolt came out just fine.
But having the aluminum knuckle creates other issues, where the lower arms attach there is a steel insert for the balljoint to go into.
Which means I was not able to get the lower balljoints out easily - had to actually press them out - remove the steel insert from the old balljoint - then press the steel insert back into the aluminum knuckle - then install the new lower arms.
