[Antetokounmpo]

I tried replacing the thrust arm, ball joint, and lower control arm this weekend but only was successful with the thrust arm. The ball joint was so rusted to the spindle, I used everything method possible short of a hydraulic press and completely removing the spindle and it didn’t budge at all. I was hitting it with a heavy mallet and (unsurprisingly) damaged the ball joint a bit.

Does anyone have a way to remove these without removing the spindles?

I also still need to do the lower control arms but it looked like I’ll need to pop the halfshaft out of the hub to get access to the nut but I didn’t have a 12 point 36mm socket handy.

[blueloco]

A pneumatic hammer got me through that job.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by blueloco

A pneumatic hammer got me through that job.

Hitting it from the top or side?

[blueloco]

Originally Posted by Antetokounmpo

Hitting it from the top or side?

Mostly from the top. You need longer than the standard chisels that come with air hammer kits. Even then you can't hit it dead on. Protect the CV joints! I think my next step was going to be to cut it out with a carbide bur but fortunately didn't have to resort to that.

I posted my experience here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...1156333&page=4

[ZGator]

I got this answer from Andrew93, when I asked about removing the ball joint - basically remove one side of thrust control arm - and rest on something, but keep the other side attached to the ball joint then hammer down on the arm itself which is connected to the ball joint, sounds like a good idea??, if you are replacing the control arm itself after banging on it anyway:

"I am new to the BMW world but I just did the control arms an"d thrust arms on my 328xi. The first ball joint fought me getting it out, the second was a breeze. On the second one I unbolted the ball joint but left attached to the thrust arm. Disconnected the far end of the thrust arm and placed it on a small jack stand. I used a 3lb sledge hammer striking the old thrust arm and it popped right out. I also removed the caliper and rotor for more working room.

First side took 3 hours mainly fighting the ball joint, second side 45min."

See here:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...0#post24192270

Let us know how it turns out!!

[rothwem]

I was able to get the balljoints on my E91 out with liberal application of pb blaster and a mini sledge, but I had no luck with my X3, which has the same suspension design. I ended up taking it to a shop where they pulled the knuckle and pressed it out with a hydraulic press.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by rothwem

I was able to get the balljoints on my E91 out with liberal application of pb blaster and a mini sledge, but I had no luck with my X3, which has the same suspension design. I ended up taking it to a shop where they pulled the knuckle and pressed it out with a hydraulic press.

Yeah, that's the only way I could possibly get mine out. Do you think swapping them made a big difference?

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by Antetokounmpo

Yeah, that's the only way I could possibly get mine out. Do you think swapping them made a big difference?

Both jobs were done at the same time as thrust arm replacements, so its tough to say whether the balljoint was the issue or the thrust arm bushing. Braking vibrations were bad on both cars before the thrust arm/balljoint were swapped, and they were gone afterwards. My E91's balljoint boots were all cracked, which was weird since its was a 2011 wagon. My X3's boots looked find, but I had to replace them since the thrust arm design was changed and it wouldn't fit on the old balljoint.

[vilord]

The way I got the thrust arms (with 12 years of salt holding them) off the ball joints was to take off the nut, disconnect the arm from the subframe, stick the flat side of a pry bar between the arm and the ball joint, and then use my hydraulic floor jack to lift up the thrust arm, levering it off the joint.

If I was going to do the ball joints, I would probably do the same thing... take out the retaining screws, put the old thrust arm back on with it's bolt, then find something to lever against and crank up the floor jack.

not sure if there *is* anything to lever against, though...

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by vilord

The way I got the thrust arms (with 12 years of salt holding them) off the ball joints was to take off the nut, disconnect the arm from the subframe, stick the flat side of a pry bar between the arm and the ball joint, and then use my hydraulic floor jack to lift up the thrust arm, levering it off the joint.

If I was going to do the ball joints, I would probably do the same thing... take out the retaining screws, put the old thrust arm back on with it's bolt, then find something to lever against and crank up the floor jack.

not sure if there *is* anything to lever against, though...

My thrust arms popped off the ball joints pretty easy, a few whacks with a mallet did the trick. My ball joints never budged, there's really not much to pry against.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Antetokounmpo

I tried replacing the thrust arm, ball joint, and lower control arm this weekend but only was successful with the thrust arm. The ball joint was so rusted to the spindle, I used everything method possible short of a hydraulic press and completely removing the spindle and it didn’t budge at all. I was hitting it with a heavy mallet and (unsurprisingly) damaged the ball joint a bit.

Does anyone have a way to remove these without removing the spindles?

I also still need to do the lower control arms but it looked like I’ll need to pop the halfshaft out of the hub to get access to the nut but I didn’t have a 12 point 36mm socket handy.

Dewalt makes an impact ready 36mm - 12pt, you can buy on Amazon. I think it's prime too.