Best W124 Ball Joint Splitter.

[grober]

Looks as if the old bus will require a bit of steering gear work in the near future. This will necessarily involve some ball joint splitting. Techniques employed seem to vary from the " hit it on the side with a large hammer school" through pickle forks to dedicated scissors type splitters. The appeal of these seems to be they can operate in fairly cramped conditions. However I have found in the past poor quality ones seem to slip off easily or are simply not up to the task strength wise. Any recommendations for a reasonably priced make Sykes-Pickavant etc of the scissors type suitable/a good fit for working on a W124???

 

[Frank O' Phile]

I have a fork type splitter but have found the first method to be the most effective. It doesn't mean you have to knock seven colours out of it, just a good sharp rap.
Haven't had to do a MB one yet.


If it doesn't work then you need a bigger hammer.

 

[stevesey]

Reminds me both my track rod end gaiters are perishing. So looks like I'll be attacking those before the MOT in April.

I've got some basic scissor ones, but often find if the joint hasn't been disturbed before I have to tension them and then give the joint a tap to get it to release.

 

[Tiff]

Fork type ones pretty much always split the boot though. You need a BFH. If you want a bit of delicacy, you need 2 BFH's. Put the first BFH on the side of the housing, and hit it with No:2 BFH. Wear goggles though!

 

[Dieselman]

I've got some basic scissor ones, but often find if the joint hasn't been disturbed before I have to tension them and then give the joint a tap to get it to release.

That's what I do, it works everytime, other than on the W210 as you can't get into the joint, so then I'm with Tiff... it's BFH time.

 

[Tiff]

There was a time, a few years ago when I looked after a fleet of vans for an engineering company. One of the Sprinters needed a bottom balljoint for its MOT so I used all the usual methods,and failed. Not one to give up, I dragged the oxy bottles outside to where I was working. I heated the hub for about 30 seconds, then dived into the scrap pile to hide from the mayhem.... The balljoint had exploded, flew down, made a hole in the concrete,then just flew away. It was found in the front car park, over the building...... For those of you who haven't seen one, a Sprinter balljoint is HUGE,and heavy.

Learned a valuable lesson that day!

 

[Dieselman]

Quit yer Bitchin'...It got it out, didn't it..

 

[tintinmt]

I bought a scissor type splitter from Euro car parts to do mine last month. It did require a little care to position in order to give good access to the bolt for the socket. No major effort or swearing required. Unfortunately I did previously turn down the offer of the Draper alternative at a car show for £14 and ended up spending a few pounds more.

 

[Tiff]

Quit yer Bitchin'...It got it out, didn't it..

Cured my constipation too!

 

[Donbronski]

Duck Oil, Large Hammer & a Lever Bar

 

[bolide]

The best ball joint splitter I know works for my local Mercedes independent garage

Nick Froome

 

[trapperjohn]

Nor one many miles from me either. Kirkham based. You know who!!

 

[grober]

Thanks for all the replies guys -it would appear one or two large hammers is/are the "tool of choice" for this job with or without a scissors type splitter. If I was to buy a scissors type what make/model would you recommend to fit the W124? I'm sure most of them would be OK but it would be good to get one with a good track record on Mercs.

 

[Donbronski]

I'd go for one with a long shank to help bring you away from the disc, No renown brand but will probably do the same job @ a fraction of the price... besides it'll spend most of it's life in the shed I guess.

BALL JOINT FORK SEPARATOR SPLITTER REMOVAL TOOL 200MM on eBay (end time 11-Nov-09 15:54:16 GMT)


Any good?

 

[BlackC55]

I have a sykes one. It works very well.

 

[BlackC55]

There was a time, a few years ago when I looked after a fleet of vans for an engineering company. One of the Sprinters needed a bottom balljoint for its MOT so I used all the usual methods,and failed. Not one to give up, I dragged the oxy bottles outside to where I was working. I heated the hub for about 30 seconds, then dived into the scrap pile to hide from the mayhem.... The balljoint had exploded, flew down, made a hole in the concrete,then just flew away. It was found in the front car park, over the building...... For those of you who haven't seen one, a Sprinter balljoint is HUGE,and heavy.

Learned a valuable lesson that day!

NEVER heat up MB ball joints. I know of one lad who had his leg broken in two by one exploding and another that put a hole in a wing and the roof of the workshop!

 

[grober]

I have a sykes one. It works very well.

Ollie was that the fork type or the scissors adjustable/non adjustable type ?

 

[219]

Best W124 Ball Joint Splitter?

Arnold Schwarzennegger ? :bannana:

 

[BlackC55]

Ollie was that the fork type or the scissors adjustable/non adjustable type ?

Adjustable scissor type.

I have broken two of them though