Gary, the "Tool" is designed to be used in a press (which I don't have). It looks like this: http://pt709.synology.me/126_ball_joint_tool.pdf
The TRW ball joints I got from you are a snug fit in the bottom of the "pipe" where they are retained in the correct position by friction between the BJ boot and the inside of the "pipe" (which is just the right ID). The "pipe" has cut outs to clear the long vertical arm on the knuckle and the alignment between the "pipe" and knuckle is near perfect when the two are mated. There is also a spacer ring that goes between the bottom of the knuckle and the arbor plate. This spacer keeps the knuckle tabs clear and also allows the new BJ to protrude from the bottom of the knuckle when it's fully inserted. It all sounds complicated but it's pretty obvious. The guy at the shop was alone, setting up to plane a head. We planned to wait for the regular press operator to return from lunch. But when he saw how simple it is he just went ahead and did it. If I had a press I would have done it myself at home. > -----Original Message----- > From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Gary > Hurst > Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2013 4:08 PM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Subject: Re: [MBZ] 126 Lower Ball Joint Tool > > i haven't been following htis as closely as i should have, but are you > saying you bought a tool to install the ball joint but still had to take > it > out anyway? > > btw, i experienced similar with 108/109 front ends. easy and fast when > you > have the right big time equipment > > > On Thu, Nov 21, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Scott Ritchey <ritche...@nc.rr.com> > wrote: > > > > > I carried the bare knuckle, new BJ, and tool to a local shop today. > This > > shop has a 20 ton press. The new ball joint pressed into the knuckle > > slicker than snot. It was almost too easy. We simply aligned the tool > > with > > the press frame by eyeball and pumped the bottle jack until it was in. > I > > previously scrubbed the knuckle, filed out the burrs from the vice > > (removing > > the old BJ) and lightly greased the BJ hole and spindle. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Scott > > Ritchey > > Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 7:49 PM > > To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' > > Subject: [MBZ] 126 Lower Ball Joint Tool > > > > > > The $100 eBay ball joint tool arrived today. It looks nicely made and > > finished. The drift mates nicely with the contour on the underside of > the > > ball joint, although I previously pounded out the old joint using a big > > socket. The tool fits snugly over the new ball joint boot without > damaging > > the boot (also holding the new BJ securely in the tool). The cutouts > seem > > to provide good clearance between the knuckle and the tool when the new > BJ > > is square with the knuckle. I plan to go to a local shade-tree mechanic > > tomorrow and press in the first joint; I'll report back afterward. > > > > Here's a link to the directions that came with the tool. It works with > 123 > > and 126 BJs and includes a spacer for 220s. > > > > > > http://pt709.synology.me/126_ball_joint_tool.pdf > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > > > > _______________________________________ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > > -- > > > *reliable vendor of superior parts for mercedes and other european cars* > *www.BuyEUROparts.com <http://www.BuyEUROparts.com>* > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
