Help - rebooting axles but outer ball joint won't separate
 

Hey all. Rebooting my axles and neither side outer ball joint will separate from the wheel assembly. I've removed the two 13mm bolts and whacked it pretty good with no luck. My mini is a 2006 R52 S with 45k miles on it. Any ideas on how to free them up?

Thanks, Jim

I just did this last night.

Are you trying to replace the ball joint?

If not, leave the 2 13mm bolts in, they dont need to come out to pop the ball joint out.

Are you using a ball joint tool or just pounding on it?

If you dont have the tool, you can rent one for free from your local parts store.

Sometimes you need the tool and pounding

I am rebooting my front axles. The instructions I have state to remove the two bolts, tap on the ball joint with a hammer, and it will fall out. Mine does not. Mine have been together for 12 years and seem to have no inclination to change.

Those are instructions are for removing the ball joint. You just need it to pop out, not remove it. It it easier if it just comes out, but as you just found out, its not that easy.

To remove my ball joint, I had to pound a screwdriver in there and bend the heck out of the ball joint housing until it finally moved. Huge pain in the ass if you live in a salt state.

Really easy to remove the one nut and use the tool. I've rarely gotten any ball joint to just pop out with a hammer

Remove the lower nut and try pounding. If you can't pound it out you are going to need the tool, or a pickle fork, but that will probably wreck the ball joint.

Thanks for the info! Will give that a try.

This is a good video if you want to actually replace the ball joint, I have an 02 that has been through WI winters and let me tell you it was seriously rusted on. I would not do it this way if planning on keeping the joint as you will bend the the sides but depending on miles I would replace it as they are around $20 from ECS. (I am currently doing this as I needed to replace an axle.

Another note, use a flat head screw driver! spent hours with an actual chizel and hammer and doesnt work the metal is to soft, but with a flat head got it between the flanges and carrier and was out in under 30minutes.
The puller to seperate from the control arms I just "borrowed" from harbor freight. just keep the nut on the bottom your you will have a minor explosion ;)

Thanks Colin! That was a very helpful video.