hey guys i was wondering how do i brake the bottom ball joint on a mini we have unbolted the bolt and it still wont come any special ways to do it ?????????????????

You'll need a ball joint splitter tool, or a big hammer and a lot of patience.

There's a couple of ways. The old method is to get two hammers and hit either side of the lower arm where the taper goes through until it drops. this does and doesn't works very well, depending on your luck and temper threshold.

The other is to get a scissor type ball joint cracker from Supercheap or similar. These work extremely well (you'll wonder what all the fuss was about). They cost about $15(ish). Grease the threads thoroughly before you use it. The steel they use on the threads on these cheapies is pretty brittle, but last for years if you hit them with some molly grease first.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

As per the other posts, but also like to add that I always support the top arm to stop the suspension moving down too far. This is usually achieved with a strategically placed socket.

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

you need a ball joint splitter OR you can hit it very hard and sharp with a hammer.

<edit> looks like everyone else covered it...i was too slow typing before i hit submit

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

i had the same problem it took a while but i found hitting it with the two hammers works well...i took some time and patience though. good luck

cheers leighton

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1975 Leyland Mini: 1060cc - resto/ ex-hsc project.

Do not hit the threaded bit of the pin.
You hit the side of the bottom arm where the pin goes through the arm. You do not hit the pin.

One big hit is a lot better than 100 little hits.

Hey I got a mini

I am like lightening when i hit anything with a hammer - its never the same place twice.

You have that many minis in your family that you can all chip in and buy a ball joint splitter. Your going to use it time and time again. Its what ? $5 bucks each ?

Get the scissor type.

Mike

I got a sissor type from Supercrap and it was $19.95

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

tch tch......inflation. .....

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I'd just get one of your brothers to do it for you

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Wow - prices must have gone up! I went in to Super Cheap yesterday and they are $30, then walked into Repco 100m down the road and $40 - for the same thing, same packaging as well.

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-Alan
I blame my dad for my love of minis. I think I was conceived in the back seat of one
I also blame my Dad for me being 6' 1" - not really the optimum height for driving a Mini.

I found a little heat to the outer arm that holds the tapered bolt helps. I used a pocket gas soldering iron which did the trick nicely.

I tried one of those super crap ball joint splitters . The bits went every where when it shattered. lucky I was wearing safety glasses.
There is a good type that fits under the arm and the bolt screws down onto the ball joint pin. I just copied it and made one.
A good splitter is a must, less work than repairing damaged threads and skun knuckles

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Research is the difference between speculation and investment. Anyone who copys some one else will always be second
www.minisprintgt.com

Got a pic?

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-Alan
I blame my dad for my love of minis. I think I was conceived in the back seat of one
I also blame my Dad for me being 6' 1" - not really the optimum height for driving a Mini.