W211 bottom balljoint replacement

[Andyn666]

I have a knock coming from the lower ball joint. I've had a look and it looks easy to replace, has anybody else done this?

Looks like I will need to remove the speed sensor, split the joint and press out, is there anything else that I might have missed?

 

[PovertySpec]

Press the new one back in before reassembling?

 

[Andyn666]

Press the new one back in before reassembling?

Ha, well yes there is that

 

[AMGeed]

That is about it. Be careful splitting the ball joint. They really do pop when released. You'll need a decent splitter, not one of those forks you belt with a lump hammer.

 

[onefortheroad]

Will you be taking the whole hub carrier off to do this ?

 

[Westheath]

It can be done on the car with the right tool.

 

[Andyn666]

I've got myself a proper spitter, and a press to to do it while the hub is on the car

 

[Andyn666]

Well, looks like that's my job over the weekend then, providing the ball joint turns up in time

 

[towat]

Done them on my W208 which I think are similar, pretty easy job just make sure you get Febi or Lemforder replacements as the cheap ones are crap.

 

[AMGeed]

I've got myself a proper spitter, and a press to to do it while the hub is on the car

You should have no problems then Andy.

 

[onefortheroad]

Good luck getting it out . have a hearty meal beforehand. They can take some shifting. Easier on a ramp I had the pleasure of doing mine with the car jacked up . bit of a pain but I did manage .

 

[Andyn666]

Done them on my W208 which I think are similar, pretty easy job just make sure you get Febi or Lemforder replacements as the cheap ones are crap.

Got a Lemforder joint coming as I was told they are the OEM supplier for MB

 

[towat]

I've got myself a proper spitter, and a press to to do it while the hub is on the car

I started off with a cartridge type splitter but it wouldn't fit very well because the top nut is recessed into the back of the hub (on the W208) so had to get a scissor type.

 

[Andyn666]

I started off with a cartridge type splitter but it wouldn't fit very well because the top nut is recessed into the back of the hub (on the W208) so had to get a scissor type.

That's the type of spitter I have, so that's good to know

 

[Westheath]

If you can ...........
put the new one in the freezer overnight if you don't have power tools to run the old one out and new one in.

 

[Andyn666]

If you can ...........
put the new one in the freezer overnight if you don't have power tools to run the old one out and new one in.

I'll try and remember to do that, thanks

 

[onefortheroad]

What's going in the freezer ha ha ?

 

[Westheath]

What's going in the freezer ha ha ?

A joint but not the Sunday one

 

[onefortheroad]

I still don't get it.

 

[Westheath]

I still don't get it.

All materials are made up of atoms.
At any temperature above absolute zero (-273 degrees celsius) the atoms will be moving.
In a solid they will be vibrating in fixed positions,
in a liquid they will be jostling past each other,
and in a gas they will be whizzing past each other at very high speeds.
When a material is heated, the kinetic energy of that material increases and it's atoms and molecules move about more.
This means that each atom will take up more space due to it's movement so the material will expand.
When it is cold the kinetic energy decreases, so the atoms take up less space and the material contracts.

Apply thermodynamics to a ball joint and freeze it then it contracts and fits easier into the hole its being applied to..