good morning:

Here's a shot in the dark, but maybe one of you guys would be so nice as to help me here.

I have a 99 SP500. The left-side ball joint on the underbody of the strut came out and I can't get it back in!

Here's what happened: I took the front left tire off to get at the grease points (it had been some while since I greased this zerk which is located up and underneath the hub--hence my problem). As I pumped grease I noticed it was extrememly difficult to pump the grease gun--as if there was some resistance. Then I looked at the underneath part and saw that the ball joint had pushed away the ball joint bracket so I took the bracket off by undoing the 2 bolts there. I wiggled the stud (bearing end where the A-arm attaches) back and forth and noticed some dark grease coming out--I bet it had bound up from not greasing it or something and was not allowing the new grease through--that explains the resistance.

So---eventually the whole ball joint fell out and I was able to clean it pretty well as well as clean out all of the grease in the area on the strut where it "plugs in."

Now---I can't get the ball joint back in! I mean, it's as if it doesnt fit or something. I tried tapping it in with a hammer but stopped cause it didn't seem right.

Does anyone know what's going on here? Man I'd appreciate any help. It literally seems like the ball joint is too much around, too wide to fit in its original hole!

Thanks, BP

 

well, my EXCELLENT dealer whom I just called gave me the solution as to how to get this bearing/ball joint to fit again....I have to freeze it then it will slip in, he said.

I have to say, this dealer is great and always is ready to give a little advice to help you out.

 

ah ha
Well, as great as the dealer is, freezing the damn thing didn't work! ANy suggestions? I mean, any of you SP500 owners out there who get a bearing jammed with grease will have to go through exactly what I'm going through so....

Thanks!

 

hello there---for some reason nobody ever responded letting me know how to get a new ball joint into a SP500. DO I need a special tool? I have to install a new one on the right strut now.

Can anyone lend some assistance?

 

im not sure if it will work because ive never done it but maybe if you freeze the ball joint and then heat up where it goes in with a torch. it might work but like i said ive never had to do anything with my balljoints but i hope it works good luck

 

yeah, I ordered the ball joint yesterday from JR Graham---the issue is that the ball joint fits into the circular hole at the bottom of the strut.....HOWEVER because the clearance on the circumference is so tight--the ball joint like goes up 1/4 inch then stops. You have to have some type of way to apply a steady pressure to the disc but you can't do this since the strut comes out from the middle of the disc.

I know there is a special tool to do this...Ideally you'd be able to get the whole strut off and do it on a workbench but I dont know how to get the damned shock absorber off either! You need a special too for THAT too!

Other than freezing the ball joint, does anyone have a technique they've used?

 

first stick the ball joint in the frezzer for a few hours.
the take the greese zerk out and blow compressed air in the hole, while your install the new ball joint, kinda like how you would install handle grips.

if that fails get a big socket to fit over it and tap it in whith a hammer.