When you hit a taper to remove it you need to hit it with enough force to send a shockwave through the joint to pop it undone.
One big hit is worth more than a thousand small hits.

Scissor type is better than pickle fork IMO, but the latter do work.
Cheap scissor ones break because they are shoddily made in PRC. UK made ones don't, mine is over 40 years old now.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I usually use a pry bar to aid while striking the joint. Put a bit of downward force on the hub and wack like you mean it! Keep your fingers clear!!!

_________________
1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

Keep the old nut on the thread too when you use the splitter, it keeps the end in decent condition and stops it from slipping over the side.

I broke one of those ball joint splitters too!

_________________

I usually ruin just the thread!

Gotta get them on all the way up snug to the bottom of the slot the ball joint slides into.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Genius! Should have kept the nut on and flush across the top, then I wouldn't have to figure out how to remove this ball joint. Any suggestions for unscrewing it? Anyone know what size it is exactly?

I had a pretty successful day today. I only got to work on it for a few hours, but the missus got involved and helped me replace all the cooling hoses under the bonnet. The heater hoses are for another day. To finish, I only need to pop 4 ball joints, replace one, and then I can put the whole front end back together and radiator back in. I've removed both front end pins, so once the ball joints go I am home free.

As for the rear, I'm going to order the full rebuild kit and order a reamer. (Thanks Doc). I think I'll get an extra bush or two - the first one is exploratory.

_________________
1998 Rover Mk VII
2001 Honda CBR 929RR (street)
2014 BMW S1000RR (track)

Sorry if wandering off topic, but do you guys have a decent source for a good reamer at reasonable price? Been thinking of getting one for a while, but there doesn't seem to be any middle ground: it's either sell an arm, or accept one made of cheese. Cheers

_________________
http://www.mini-hb.co.nz

The Doctor gave me this link, which is a decent price but after shipping charges it adds up the being the same as most retailers. The other annoyance is that they don't seem to sell guides, so you have to buy that from another shop and pay shipping again. Ugh. I've sent an email off to these guys, asking if maybe they have a guide and it just isn't on the site. I'll let you know if I get a response.
http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/R726

[EDIT] I just spoke with them, and they do not stock guides.

_________________
1998 Rover Mk VII
2001 Honda CBR 929RR (street)
2014 BMW S1000RR (track)

Yeah that was a the problem I found will most local retailers. The good quality ones have no guide, the crap ones do. Weird.

_________________
http://www.mini-hb.co.nz

Update on reamers - (I'm on a warpath )

I've just spoken with Lindsay at minis plus, and he tells me that he is the only retailer in Aus who ships his rear trailing arm bushes pre-bored. They still need reaming, but he says they will arrive so close, he doesn't even need to adjust his reamer - set it once and away you go. Because with his bushes you only need to generally take a few thou, he says a guide isn't entirely necessary, as you are doing all of the reaming in one pass.

I ordered an extra bush just in case.

I also got word back from an eBay retailer, who will ship to Melbourne for free - $165 for the HSS H9 Reamer with guide. I'm not excited about working with these folks, because the published prices on their website add up to $144 + $8 postage.

_________________
1998 Rover Mk VII
2001 Honda CBR 929RR (street)
2014 BMW S1000RR (track)

That is good of lindsay, the stock bushes seem to be a generic size, as they take a lot of passes to come to the right size. For that money I would contact a workshop, and prepare the radius arm with the bush inserted.

They will do the single pass with the reamer they own, and you will walk away happy with the result.

You can only be charged for the labour of reaming, so maybe one hour? ~$100? Unless you're planning on doing a number of radius arms, its a good outcome.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Agreed, it's a not a tool you'd buy for a one-off job. I'm more thinking that over time I'll probably do multiple, plus club use etc.

_________________
http://www.mini-hb.co.nz

Another reamer update. I ended up buying the reamer from the Machinery House, along with a heap of other tools. To ship the whole lot, they only charged me $7 - so if you're going to order from these guys I recommend doing it over the phone for a better shipping price.

And yes, I will only do this job once (hopefully). But the interest for a notch on my belt and another garage adventure I am keen to get the tool. Plus, in the future perhaps I can help some other poor soul who has to undertake this job.

_________________
1998 Rover Mk VII
2001 Honda CBR 929RR (street)
2014 BMW S1000RR (track)

But did they have a guide? We have Machinery House here in NZ and I think they were one of those that didn't stock a guide. If they do, do you have a part #?

_________________
http://www.mini-hb.co.nz

Nope, no guide. Lindsay assures me that since you only have to do 1 pass, a guide is pretty moot. On the standard bushes, you will have to almost a dozen passes, and without a guide you can slowly get off-centre and screw the pooch. But if you're only doing one pass, it's pretty hard to stuff it up (he assures me!). Of course, if you're not buying your bushes from Minis plus than you will want a guide - so unfortunately your hunt continues...

Like I said, I'm pretty good at stuffing things up, so I've ordered an extra bush.

_________________
1998 Rover Mk VII
2001 Honda CBR 929RR (street)
2014 BMW S1000RR (track)