Once the original joints are replaced the replacements seem to come out much easier. They also seem to just not last very long either. I've loaded them under pressure on the 20 ton press and ten stood back as I used the oxy-acetylene torch to get them to pop free. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Neil N
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2016 1:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Front end overhaul

Did you find the need to apply heat at knuckle where lower ball joint seats?
This might expand the metal allowing easier removal of ball joint?

I know folks have used that tool w/o the need to apply heat but IIRC, someone suggested this can help.

Neil.

On 1/10/16, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> John, I will loan you the Harbor Freight ball joint tool set that I 
> used. I put the big c-clamp part of it in a vise and pressed the old 
> ones out and new ones in in an hour or so, front and rear.

--
Neil n

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