dsrufer

After finding a torn ball joint rubber gasket on my '87 Carrera, I decided I'd replace the joints. How hard could it be? I learned the answer to that question. Nothing I could do would remove the castle nuts attached to the ball joints while the control arms were still attached to the car. I used my floor jack to apply pressure to the castle nut. I used WD-40 a couple times the day before starting. I used a Dremel tool. I was reaching for the blow torch before finally deciding to dismantle the entire front suspension. With the control arms out of the car and the Dremel tool in hand, I finally convinced the castle nuts these was no use in further resistance. I'm king of my garage again (although that only lasted until I tried to get the bearing out of my front hubs). What a monumental pain. I also learned that my local Harbor Freight Tools store should be profitable this year; my new tools might run more than the replacement parts.

Dan

KNS

They can be a real pain! I finally resorted to a Dremmel (was able to get it in there while still installed on the car). So easy! Wish I'd used it from the very start.

Amber Gramps

That same breaker bar sits atop my tool box ready to go to work at a moments notice. The key is to have a pipe that slides over the bar to multiply leverage. My 225 out at 6 feet and nothing stands a chance. That and some PB Blaster a couple hours ahead of schedule and I can break anything.

Norske

Heh, heh, I'm sure you've broken LOTS of things.

Amber Gramps

Yep, and I've got just the socket to fix it.

Reiver

Ok, have to ask...I've 3 roll aways with tools...how much redundancy are we talkin there

wildcat077

That's where air tools come in handy ... a zip gun with a brass snap and mine came off in less than 30 seconds,new ones back on with a big *** pipe wrench and all is good !
If you don't have a good compressor and the tools,find a friend who will loosen the nut for you,even a nearby muffler shop could do it for you then you drive home and finish the job ...

Cheers !
Phil

Amber Gramps

Define this "redundancy" word.


I'll go count....but I'd say any run of 6 or more sockets constitutes a "set"....so my guess is about 40 "sets".

Totally curious about what size socket it took to do the ball joint, by the way.

Amber Gramps

A quick look and I've got some numbers for you:

lets say a set is anywhere from 6 to 16 sockets in a row.... otherwise it's just an orphan or specialty socket.

1/4" drive
9 ratchets (craftman, snap on, blackhawk)
butt load of extentions
1 swivel set (local tool crib)
3 shallow sets (craftsman, snap on x2)
2 mid sets (matco x2)
6 deep sets (craftsman x3, snap on x2, matco)
and various specialty items like a snap on universal joint, flat blade, etc.

3/8" drive
15 ratchets (craftman, powerbuilt, blackhawk)
9 sets torx, hex, E, (craftsman, napa,)
2 flex sets (mac, blackhawk)
1 universal set (snap on)
6 shallow sets (snap on, blackhawk x2, craftsman x3)
5 deep sets (craftsman x3, blackhawk, mac)
1 crows foot set (napa)
Metric butt load of extensions, universal joints, swivel-tip extensions, and a couple snap on shock tower sockets

1/2" drive
7 ratchets (my grandfather's craftsman x3)
3 torque wrenches (craftsman)
5 shallow sets (craftsman x2, blackhawk x2)
3 deep sets (craftman, blackhawk, powerbuilt)
various extensions, swivel, universal joints.

Looks to be about 47 sets.

Needless to say there is lots of similar and redundant sizes and shapes.

I've really been falling in love with impact grade sockets


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...and to illustrate that the grass is always greener this snap on classic 78 box belongs to a friend of mine.
(and no, the only thing he has given me is an orange bar Porsche crest.

spanky

One can never have to much ammo or tools.

Amber Gramps

Why you liberal bastard.

You even have Dougs968 beat.

911tracker85

I'm getting aroused ....

theiceman

back on point op should do front bushings since its all out anyway

dsrufer

I'm so in envy with those tool sets.

The tool used to remove the ball joints was from Autozone with part # 336-25965. It's a 1/2" drive 66.5mm x 80mm lockout socket made for Ford 4x4s. The fit was probably about 90% good. It was $20.

New control arm PolyBronze bearings are coming from Elephant Racing (along with de-cambered ball joints).

One little tear in the existing ball joint rubber and now the entire front suspension is out of the car with replacements for most everything. What a slippery slope.

Dan

Wachuko

Wow!!

Not sure if I am more impressed by the amount of tools or how frigging organized those are!! Amazing!!