Front Ball Joint Separator - Suggestions ?

[macspring]

Was wondering if anyone has any suggestion, photos or links for a suitable ball joint separator for the ball joints that connect the two ends of the B4 steering rack to the two "arms" on the two front struts of a 95 S2 Avant ?

The standard widely available scissors shaped one does not work / fit ?

All comments welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[Jas11n]

This type, fork seperators are the work of the devil.
Ebay, Halfords, good motor factors etc etc.

[stiglet]

Gear puller. Looks like this. Is the easiest and also doesn't destroy the ball joint if you just need to seperate the two then use again.

[S2central.net]

I'm not sure how a gear puller would work there...

I find that when the joint is seized in the strut that shock (hammers in the area) and heat help a lot to get those scissor style splitters to work... If you don't need to reuse the joint, then just remove the nyloc and whack the booger southwards with thy favourite hammer.

If its a new-ish joint being removed then smack your wrist for not using copper grease when fitting it the last time

What I often find a real PITA is when removing the nyloc nut that the joint starts to rotate so you end up having to either use a nut splitter on it, hack the fecker off or (what I do) use a large pair of two prong vise grips to clamp the joint into its socket while leaving enough clearance to remove the nyloc.

VERY important note when renewing the nylocs - make sure you have the correct fine pitched thread to match the joint... Not any old 'normal' nyloc.

[goodall]

we have a nice old sykes picavant scissors style one from about 30 years ago works a treat and is yet to damage a joint fair as i can see, just tap it in and screw down handiest thing ever use in comparison to beating it ete

[Azman]

when struggling before I have given the bottom of the strut a thwack with the hammer of medium weightness and also got a wide screwdriver when the nylock bolt is out and twisted to seperate the joint slightly whilst appliying slight forearm pressure to the wishbone. Quick shake and opps it falls out. And as per mr Central, nice application of the copper grease upon its return from whence it came...