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[terry paget]

X168JAT 2.5 petrol manual estate
Changing the wishbones on above car I had great difficulty getting the taper bin out of the hub. I managed to hammer in a pickle fork which got it half way out, but there it stuck, with the pickle fork all the way in. I then removed the pickle fork, but the pin was still well stuck. I have changed wishbones before, and by this stage they just popped out. Not this time. I had to resort to hammers, drifts and bad language.
The pickle fork wedge went from 1 to 13mm depth. What I wanted is a second pickle fork going from 10 to 23mm to finish the job. Does anyone make one?

[chrisgixer]

Branston?

No idea on the fork Terry, sorry.

But have you tried spreading the knuckle clamp with a cold chisel to open the join? That and good dose of penetrating oil to loosen any rust usually does the trick, along with a long pry bar in the wishbone centre hole held by the back of your knee, and a punch to knock the pin out from the top with caliper removed.

Av it!

[TheBoy]

Its a problem I always have, even when trying to use the Gixer technique, having seen him do it and make it look almost effortless, yet I lack the knack 

But its worth trying his technique, as he does make it look very easy

[05omegav6]

As above, trolley jack handle in the central wish bone hole and give it some...

Also makes refitting a breeze

[chrisgixer]

I realised partly why TB.

The ones you've seen me do have all had poly fitted. Which gives zero resistance, so your only battling the rearward bush. 

[Nick W]

The pin hasn't moved straight out of the hole, so requires 'persuasion' as above. Spreading the clamp slightly will also help.
When you fit the new one, move the balljoint/pin so that it will go straight into the hole.

[terry paget]

Thank you gentlemen. I had spread the knuckle clamp with a cold chisel, but I had not removed the caliper. I have not found removing the caliper necessary in the past. Once the pin has moved a bit a long bar in the wishbone hole has it down. Not on this car. I have devised the tool I wanted, but no-one appears to make one. I was nervous hammering it too much, lest I damage the wheel bearing. I was pleased to hear you professionals have trouble too.

[05omegav6]

I never remove the caliper, yet Chris always does...

Horses for courses I guess

[The Red Baron]

I never remove the caliper, yet Chris always does...

Horses for courses I guess

so do i tbh. never really had any problems with bottom joint. 

[Bigron]

I haven't popped a ball joint for ages, but a technique that always worked for me involved the use of two hammers (remember the old joke about "bricking the camel"?), with the larger hammer, say a club hammer, behind the joint and aiming a sharp, firm blow at the front of the joint with the other hammer.
The pin always popped!

Ron.

[martin42]

18" cold chisel works for me,and ive never removed a caliper

[chrisgixer]

Re calliper removal.

Iirc, as fitted from the factory, the calliper needs to come off to get the pinch bolt out, as its originally fitted with the threads pointing towards the rear of the car.

So IF that's correct, and owners have never removed the calliper to change wishbones, then it might be that the car has had its wishbones removed previously, and the pinch bolt re fitted tother way round. ...IF that's correct...?

[terry paget]

I have never found the need to remove the caliper to remove the pinch bolt. I do remove the track rod. You reckon that the pinch bolt cannot be withdrawn with the caliper fitted, if the threads are pointed forward. You could be right. I wonder why they should fit it that way round in the factory.

[chrisgixer]

I have never found the need to remove the caliper to remove the pinch bolt. I do remove the track rod. You reckon that the pinch bolt cannot be withdrawn with the caliper fitted, if the threads are pointed forward. You could be right. I wonder why they should fit it that way round in the factory.

Presumed a safety thing. If the nut falls off, or the bolt shears, the bolt can't escape. If the bolt can't escape, the pin can't fall out. Which would be fairly disastrous.