Pillow Balls !!

[JonFD]

Hey guys,

How do you get the pillow balls out of the rear upper arm/wish bone on the car?


I've tried the long bolt n sockets to wind it out, and the bolts just strip the threads.. Either I need better bolts or 20 od years of rust/shite need another approach?

Are there any other methods short of taking the link off and using a press? (I am being slightly lazy but will if its the way lol)

 

[Mid Night FD]

I tried with the same method of sockets and bolts and had the same result. I had to use a bush removal kit in the end. If you can find a high tensile nut and bolt the right size then it may work.

 

[Siphyliss]

I did a full bush replacement to polybushes not long ago, if its the twatty bush I think you're on about, they only come out one way. I found I couldnt put a socket over the end that was being pushed out as it has a shoulder on it. I put it in a vice and used a screwdriver and hammer to bray the edges up so I could get two straight bars in the press and do it that way.

 

[JonFD]

I did a full bush replacement to polybushes not long ago, if its the twatty bush I think you're on about, they only come out one way. I found I couldnt put a socket over the end that was being pushed out as it has a shoulder on it. I put it in a vice and used a screwdriver and hammer to bray the edges up so I could get two straight bars in the press and do it that way.

It's one of the bearings/pillow balls, not a rubber bust so no poly replacements for it, not sure it's the same...

 

[JonFD]

I tried with the same method of sockets and bolts and had the same result. I had to use a bush removal kit in the end. If you can find a high tensile nut and bolt the right size then it may work.

I've tried old cyl head bolts, but there far too long to use, If anyone can suggest or send a link to a bolt short-(long-ish lol) enough would be great?

 

[rotors7]

Have you tried heating the outside of the pillow ball housing first ?
The alloy will definitely expand and lose some of it's grip.
I have wentin fasteners down the road, they every nut and bolt known to man it seems.
You can get individual bush extractor bars and adaptors on ebay, they work very well.
I guess you've removed the clip first ?

 

[Spendyrx]

Yes jeff that's exactly what I would try first! Heat, lots of wd40 and a nut bolt n socket! Though I did cheat when mine were done as a friend done them at his

 

[Seanmcg]

they only come out one way theres a lip on the wishbone to stop it on one side, sounds silly but i did it aswell, lucky it was a spare wishbone i had and i had a 20 ton press, she burst through the lip (oops) once i went from the proper side it was easy

 

[JonFD]

Yeh I found the lip, was one of the first things I confirmed, been there too many times with the 'ohh if from thaaat side' lol

Ill try those wentin people, I got bolts off ebay, and there, as expected lol, some sellers have high tensile but sizes are to short.

I've never seen the extractor bars, I'll try them too.

Heat may well be the way, It's the one thing I havn't tried from the suggestions (and the bush tools) My thinking would be the pillow ball would expand and get tighter in there?

 

[rotors7]

The alloy expands faster and it will definitely make a difference, as Spendy said if you use some wd40 it'll get sucked into any gaps made and help break the grip.
You didn't mention that you've removed the spring clip ? just in case you haven't !!!

 

[JoeLanger]

Obviously make sure you remove the circlip first.
Instead on bolts just use stud bar with nuts, any size you want then.
I had to soak mine in WD for a week then they cam out no problem with the nut and bolt method. The WD just breaks down the rust.
I had more difficulty getting them back in I couldn't get them lined up square again, had to use a press for that

 

[Hn.92]

. Watching this video helped me replace mine.

 

[JonFD]

The alloy expands faster and it will definitely make a difference, as Spendy said if you use some wd40 it'll get sucked into any gaps made and help break the grip.
You didn't mention that you've removed the spring clip ? just in case you haven't !!!

Thought that as soon as I posted, deffo got the clip lol.
Makes sense about breaking it free, deffo gonna use heat..

Obviously make sure you remove the circlip first.
Instead on bolts just use stud bar with nuts, any size you want then.
I had to soak mine in WD for a week then they cam out no problem with the nut and bolt method. The WD just breaks down the rust.
I had more difficulty getting them back in I couldn't get them lined up square again, had to use a press for that

I got the thickes threaded bar I could find, is there a difference with stud bar?

. Watching this video helped me replace mine.

The previous video shows the removal, basically what I've been trying - I wish lol - nothing seem to happen quickly with this car...

 

[richie2912]

Did mine with sockets, bolts and thick washers. Was actually really easy, by the time i got to the last one out and then in was around 8-10mins if that a pillow ball and done in place on the car.

I dont remember buying any fancy bolts just some from fleebay as per the titles .......

M10 / 10mm PART THREADED BOLT GRADE 8.8 ZINC SCREW HEXAGON HEX HEAD BOLTS DIN931 (i bought 3 different lengths from memory)
5mm VERY THICK HEAVY DUTY ZINC SQUARE PLATE WASHERS - M10 & M12 - 40mm x 40mm
METRIC HEXAGONAL STEEL FULL NUTS STANDARD PITCH BRIGHT ZINC PLATED DIN 934

Maybe try some better graded bolts?

I found it more tricky to get the suspensions parts back together once the pillow ball was replaced, until i found out that you can press one side out to make more room for the pillow ball to fit into and then tighten it back up flush. (if that makes sense)

 

[JoeLanger]

I got the thickes threaded bar I could find, is there a difference with stud bar?

Thickest? I just used M10 stud bar in 1m lengths, you just cut it to length. You said you where using bolts.

I found it more difficult finding the right size spacers ect.

I made a big square washer out of 10mm bar about 65mm x 65mm with that and some sockets and off cuts of pipe I managed it

 

[JonFD]

I've used both, think I got a bit confused when I said thickest, was refering to bolts - I got a length of M10 ebay threded bar and that wasn't up to it.

I've orderd 8'' of high tensile thread bar so I'll crack on when that arrives.

 

[JoeLanger]

I've used both, think I got a bit confused when I said thickest, was refering to bolts - I got a length of M10 ebay threded bar and that wasn't up to it.

I've orderd 8'' of high tensile thread bar so I'll crack on when that arrives.

Ahh right that's what I used but had 5 lengths and it usually managed 1 or 2 bushes and had to use another length.

It's a twat of a job TBH

 

[JonFD]

Soooo...

It didn't happen, the high tensile bar arrived, and after loading it up with torque and then applying heat I got about 5mm, in stages.

The bar is stripped in about 6 places - I managed to use almost all of it with sockets/ no socket/deep socket then swapping round etc.

I've let it cool (took about an hour) then gone back as the whole assembly was hot, and got another maybe 1mm.

I'll take the link off in the morning as the car is still on jack and stand and walk it over to my local garage (should let me use the press) and get it done...

 

[Spendyrx]

Pmsl I'm glad I sent mine to my mate then

 

[rotors7]

Well at least you gave it a good go !
It's a bugger when you've got to admit defeat