Well, I spent many a moon trying to find the OEM
Porsche
ball joint removal tool's original manufacturer so I wouldn't have to pay
Porsche
's prices for it. I saw many pictures of different tools used here on the forum, even this one, but I couldn't find it available anywhere. I bought one from Harbor Freight but it didn't work. I looked at other ones (the ones people mentioned here) and their dimensions didn't seem quite right. So in the end, I decided to bite the bullet and get the correct tool. I have 6 ball joints to remove for my coilover installation so I didn't want to risk screwing up something. Here is a link to Nexus' website where you can buy on line. It should be a little cheaper here even with the exchange rate. I paid ~$250 shipped from Sunset. They were cheaper than
Suncoast
.
Onlineshop
NEXUS - Abzieher, Innenauszieher, Trennvorrichtung, Mutternsprenger, Gleithammer - Werkzeugfakrik Remscheid - Germany
The tool's name is 169-1p.
I hope this helps others in the future!
I was able to install my front coilovers without removing any ball joints at all! See
Tarett Engineering Front Camber Plates
for an outline of the procedure. I have not yet done the rears, but I see no reason at all why the same approach won't work there.
That being said, I bet you could share your tool with other users, and that said users could chip in to help defray the cost of the tool. I, for example, will be installing rear toe links soon, and will need a tool to press out the ball joints. The tool I bought from NAPA was totally inadequate...
I agree there are other ways to remove the suspension components without having to do the ball joints. I played around with the car on a couple of occasions before I got the tool and I really just felt more comfortable going with the way the factory manuals suggest.
I haven't used my tool yet, (hopefully in the
next
couple of weeks) but after that I might be able to lend it out to some folks.
I wonder if this one is equivalent?
HAZET 1779-1 BALL JOINT PULLER - HA1779-1
Nope! I remember looking at that one. The span of the jaw is smaller.
Don't know if they still sell retail or not but Baum Tool and Zelenda Tool used to be a good source for this kind of thing. Automotion also carried some tooling also.
Baum didn't. Automotion didn't. Didn't try Zelenda.
Hey guys, any updates? I'm mid-rear coilover install right now and just can't get the ball joint of the lower control arm off worth a darn thing. I guess this ball joint remover will work.
Gmsracing, any chance that I could shoot you some money to borrow it? $50 shipped?
My partially certified ASA mechanic says that I should just be able to tap the part of the spindle with a hammer to knock loose all the rust and adhesion and then the lower control arm will just drop loose with that bolt too.
Makes me nervous seeing that I already have a hairline crack in the spindle where it hugs the bottom portion of the strut. :helpme:
