lower ball joints

[worrall1959]

hi guys I have a 2000 Mercedes CL500 Coupe, front lower ball joints need replacing anyone done this job and any tips please
Regards

 

[BlackC55]

They need to pressed in and out. Due to the shape of the hub they are awkward to get in a floor press so have to be done in situe with a press tool designed for the job.

Some can be very tight indeed.

Most mb specialists will have the correct tooling for this.

 

[worrall1959]

Hi BlackC55, do any other parts need to be removed to gain access, i have seen a G shaped clamp set on the net for this job are they any good !!!!

 

[BlackC55]

Yes. The other arm ball joint has to be removed. You need a tough ball joint splitter to do this. I have a snap on one and I probably break one a month doing these.

The clamp you found on eBay I doubt will be up to the job. I have used one in the past and snapped the threaded part doing a ball joint. My tool is a hydraulic press and can press 20t. Sometimes you need all of that to push the joint out.

 

[worrall1959]

Thanks for your time and advice, think will look to a local garage to carry this out
Kind regards

 

[BlackC55]

Make sure they have the tools do do this exact job. Without them it's easy to damage other items.

It's 2.4 hours labour for a pair of joints and they are £35 each plus vat.

 

[John]

I have a snap on one and I probably break one a month doing these.

Do Snap On replace it FOC each time?

 

[BlackC55]

Yep.

I have 3 in my toolbox just incase.

 

[BlackC55]

Just ask the forum member doodle. He had two snap on his car while he watched

 

[John]

It must cost SO a fortune!

 

[BlackC55]

They should make them so they last!!

 

[wadeyblue]

I carried out the job on my e280 CDi.
Bought the tool and carried out the removal and pressed in the new one.
As already said they are VERY tight and go with a bang when released first.
If you want to know make etc of tool let me know.

 

[John]

They should make them so they last!!

Indeed.

Although they think they do don't they - hence lifetime warranty!

 

[Sp!ke]

I carried out the job on my e280 CDi.
Bought the tool and carried out the removal and pressed in the new one.
As already said they are VERY tight and go with a bang when released first.
If you want to know make etc of tool let me know.

Do you have a picture of said tool?

Last time I did this job I did it the hard way without any special tools and I still have scars on my hands from doing the job.

 

[wadeyblue]

Hi Sp!ke
If you carried out this job without the special tool you are deffo a better man than me. I eventually had a 2 foot steel bar extra leverage on it to start the removal.
Tool is a LASER 4858 mercedes benz remover/ installer tool. Part number 4858.
Reduced from 300 odd quid to just under 100 from The Tool Academy dot com.
My total bill for it including vat and postage was 104.99 but a great piece of kit.
I have kept it for the other side when it goes.

 

[Ian Donkin]

I've opted for the easy route... PCS will be doing mine next Monday

 

[wadeyblue]

AAWWW where's the fun in that? LoL

 

[Robster_1981]

This thread worries me slightly, I've just done this job on my W210, and I think they have the same joints???

The old one's came out with a couple of heavy smacks with a lump hammer and the new one's went in easy enough, however, they have not butted right up to the hub and you can see about 4mm of the alignment pin. At the time I thought that didn't look right, but the old one's were the same so I thought nothing of it.

I have second thoughts after reading this

 

[BlackC55]

It is completely different on a 210 compared to a 211.

 

[Robster_1981]

It is completely different on a 210 compared to a 211.

Phew!! sorry for that hijack, I did a quick search on a CL balljoint and the same one's came up.

Thanks for clearing that up