Ball joint bolts

[acarpen9]

Hi can anyone give me any advice on how to best remove these last 2 bolts.
Hex heads off bottom have snapped off, have tried using a caliper type press but thats not moved them. and have beaten fook out of them with a 4lb hammer.

[gotgcoalman]

heat and a bigger hammer
or
spray with plus gas and go for a cuppa.
then re commence the hammering.

have you got anything under the wishbone?
place an axle stand under the wishbone/ball joint so when you bash the bolts all of the force is applied to them.
If it's not supported then the blows will be absorbed by any downward movement.

[Mfr]

I just did this job on my Dad's Mondeo with rivets, I cut them flush with the wishbone and then drilled/drifted them down and out. It looks to me that the hammering has mushroomed the stud making it harder to go through, trim them down and they should drift out. As Gotgcoalman says having a block of wood or stand to support it will stop you loosing force as you hit.

[Aardvark]

Just out of interest................should the nuts go on the top or the bottom when you fit a new one? I was just assuming that the nuts should be on the bottom. That way the bolts are less likely to fall out if the nuts fail.

[Mfr]

Just out of interest................should the nuts go on the top or the bottom when you fit a new one? I was just assuming that the nuts should be on the bottom. That way the bolts are less likely to fall out if the nuts fail.

That's the way I do it for the very same reason. It feels better somehow, like putting cotter pins in from front to back, I can't explain it, maybe its a Zen thing.

[V184]

if its had heat on it i would change the wishbone as well

[gotgcoalman]

Not if you warm the balljoint to break the corrosive hold it has on the bolts.
No direct heat to the wishbone or stubborn bolts.
If mild heat distorts the wishbone then it's time to change it.

we're talking just enough to get the bolts out not get the whole lot glowing.
It's a ball joint not a kingpin

Think I put the nut uppermost last time (more aerodynamic)

[V184]

looks like its had more than "mild heat"

[gotgcoalman]

looks like its had more than "mild heat"

A stern talking to and a fair few whacks

By stern talking to I mean "get the f%$£ out you f%^£"!* B"!$&^%.

People in ear shot must love us "older transit" owners

[gotgcoalman]

Just out of interest................should the nuts go on the top or the bottom when you fit a new one? I was just assuming that the nuts should be on the bottom. That way the bolts are less likely to fall out if the nuts fail.

You're in France so it's 2 facing down and don't bother with the other as it's a spare

[whitemice]

This is the hounds nads and also where heat/flame would be an issue
http://www.shopwurthusa.com/wurthstoref ... 0893241002

[Jim Archer]

I drilled them out on mine. Be warned they are a high tensile bolt, and it's very easy to make them go hard if you don't keep the drill sharp and go at it with a slow speed and plenty of cutting fluid.

Jim