Wishbones

[Marc97]

After nearly 5 months, I've decided I should sort the front wheel bearing out on my 1.8 B5.
I had to change a CV joint not so long ago and when I tried to remove the lower wishbone ball joints, they wouldn't budge. I beat the living crap out of them and even with a ball joint splitter, they wouldn't budge.
Is there a trick to this, its the first one I've ever come across that refuses to pop out after a few hefty knocks with a lump hammer (and I've done a lot on all makes of car).

Cheers.

[audimad]

No trick i can think of, use a jack or big bar to put pressure on it before and during the persuader is used , it should POP then. HTH

[rhencullen1989]

I have replaced 3 front wheel bearings on my 96 1.8T, yes you are correct in saying the bottom tapered joints are a pain to "crack off". The bottom rear one is a smaller diameter than the bottom front one, i think you need a 20mm mouth for rear and a 25mm mouth for the front one. I removed the rear one without too much fuss using a scissor type splitter but it would not fit the front one. I used a bottle jack and jacked up on the end of the tapered joint (nut flush with thread so as not to damage it) and it took the whole weight of the car and some serious ******** with a lump hammer on the casting before it finally cracked off. Try KLANN KL-0164-3 splitter or if you are not rich try DRAPER 63770 or SEALEY VS 3802, i have been told these will work on front and rear joints. Good luck, its a pain of a job, have you got the top bolt out yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D another story!

[Marc97]

Lol^^^^^^^^^^

Yes mate, top bolts came out without too much fuss. Lucky me eh?