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Thread: Stubborn ball joint, any tips?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2016
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    01/1992 E32 735i SE

    Stubborn ball joint, any tips?

    Trying to remove the lower trailing arm. I had the ball joint separator on there so tight that I struggled to wind it loose to remove it. Even tried whacking it with the separator on but still no joy.

    What to try next?
    IMG_9313.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Thanks, only thing is that I did the upper arms a little while back and wanted to avoid removing them if possible.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    I've left this on the joint for 2 days as Ive been busy but it still hasn't popped. I've never used heat but would it help? If not then I guess I'll have to remove the upper arm from the car.
    IMG_9321.jpg

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    use a saw or flex and cut it off, might be the easiest, the arm goes anyway to the scrap bin.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Boynton Beach, Florida
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    1990 735I (E32) M30
    Quote Originally Posted by SharkGill View Post
    Trying to remove the lower trailing arm. I had the ball joint separator on there so tight that I struggled to wind it loose to remove it. Even tried whacking it with the separator on but still no joy.

    What to try next?
    IMG_9313.jpg
    Sent both of your pictures to a friend who worked for BMW for years. Said they had many problems like yours with this ball joint. Said to tell you that the bolt is tapered and that the best way they found to remove was to hold a very large heavy hammer in back and then bang away like you've been doing. The rear hammer will absorb the force of the blow when you hit it from the front. He said they always eventually pop off. Just to hit it over and over again holding the rear hammer and touching it to the arm.
    1990 735I (Auto) E32 Feb 1990 to Present
    1996 Z3 Roadster (5 Speed) E36/7 Jan 1999 to Dec 1999
    1983 733I (5 Speed) E23 April 1983 to Feb 1990
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4tHoHGaJo
    https://1drv.ms/v/s!Av20xCMMocSsyEpl...h_oOk?e=ekIcAT







  7. #7
    Join Date
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    My Cars
    01/1992 E32 735i SE
    Managed to remove the upper arm ball joint without damaging the boot. It popped with some force on the press, the ball joint separator wouldn't have got that in a million years.
    IMG_9328.jpg
    IMG_9329.jpg

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
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    Lincoln, NE
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    91 735iL
    What did you do to get to the 22mm (if I remember correctly) nut holding upper arm? Did you lower the sway bar?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2016
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    My Cars
    01/1992 E32 735i SE
    I left the upper arm attached to the car. I managed to remove all other ball joints from the steering arm apart from the lower arm which I used the hydraulic press to separate.
    Ordered these for the rear subframe
    58A677B9-63C0-4272-8E5E-06D668B68FBD.jpg

    Also going to get this powder coated as it's looking worse for wear (any colour suggestions?)
    35620680-8BEC-4A53-9E30-A0EDA8A753F6.jpg

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