Upper Ball Joint Tool

[my69S1]

I need to replace my passengers side upper ball joint.  The manual says that I can do this insitu once the spring has been retained.  It talks about a special tool (don't recall the number) to remove the ball joint.  Does this special tool make the job that much easier or can I get it out some other way without having to take the whole A arm off the car?  I couldn't find a picture of the special tool but I see that it can be purchased.  Just looking at my options to make this job as easy as I can.  Thanks.  Car is an '69 S1.

[lancialulu]

You will have difficulty retaining the spring on an S1 without a proprietary tool (lets call it A) which extends the spring housing (S2 have this extension in effect with the upper bump stop). Even with this tool there is another tool to separate the ball joints after undoing the the upper ball joint securing nut. Commercially available is a pickle fork type that can split the joint from the arm. The ball joint then needs to be extracted from the arm If original it could be rusted in and a "b" to remove. The club has a tool for this but it will not work on well corroded joints. BUT the real problem is that you really need a press to put the new one in securely. This really means stripping the top arm off the car. This is possible with the spring restrained, but a lot of faff. I think Omicron might sell the tool A. If you are just worried about a split rubber gaiter these can be replaced without removing the complete joint.

[my69S1]

You will have difficulty retaining the spring on an S1 without a proprietary tool (lets call it A) which extends the spring housing (S2 have this extension in effect with the upper bump stop). Even with this tool there is another tool to separate the ball joints after undoing the the upper ball joint securing nut. Commercially available is a pickle fork type that can split the joint from the arm. The ball joint then needs to be extracted from the arm If original it could be rusted in and a "b" to remove. The club has a tool for this but it will not work on well corroded joints. BUT the real problem is that you really need a press to put the new one in securely. This really means stripping the top arm off the car. This is possible with the spring restrained, but a lot of faff. I think Omicron might sell the tool A. If you are just worried about a split rubber gaiter these can be replaced without removing the complete joint.

Thanks.  Yes the rubber boot is split and I imagine dirt has gotten in because it makes a grinding noise when I bounce the front end up and down.  I can feel and hear it (with a stethoscope) coming from the top joint.  I've greased it but it still makes the grinding sound.  My car does not have the conventional springs.  It has a single composite spring on bronze roller guides put in by a PO.

[my69S1]

Just thought I would follow up on this.  I was able to replace the upper ball joint without removing the A arm or the drive shaft.  I used a bottle jack, piece of wood and a steel bar to lift the upper arm and spring.  The spring is offset a bit from the drive shaft otherwise this would not have worked.  Used a pickle fork to separate the ball joint from the lower suspension and purchased a ball joint/tie rod kit from amazon.  This allowed me to push out the ball joint and press in the new one.  It was a tight fit but thankfully there was enough room.  Then put everything back together.  Lowered the spring and tightened up the ball joint bolt.

The ball joint definitely needed replacing.  Once I had the old one out I could move the ball joint about 5mm in and out while holding the outer housing.

[lancialulu]

Please do not make it sound easy! 

That spring can be lethal or at least harmful and you obviously had to rig up something that was safe enough.

However to others who may be reading this please treat with extreme caution.

[my69S1]

Please do not make it sound easy! 

That spring can be lethal or at least harmful and you obviously had to rig up something that was safe enough.

However to others who may be reading this please treat with extreme caution.

Didn't mean to make it sound easy, which it was not.  I believe I was able to do it this way because my setup is somewhat different than a stock Fulvia front suspension.