Please Help!!! Lower control arm - different style ball joints

[drifto614]

I have a 2006 A4 B7 FWD CVT. I was installing the Meyle HD complete control arm kit on my car and came across this problem with the "Lower Rearward control arm" My oem control arm ball joint fitting is more of a cylindrical style vs. the new one is more of a conical style. I thought maybe it was just a collar that was seized on the ball joint and tried pounding it off but it is one piece. I've tried searching all over the forums and internet to find a solution. My oem control arm has the part# 8E0407695E

It seems like there are 2 versions of the lower control arm and mine seems to be more rare. If anyone has any info on this, or if i'm missing something, please help me.

My version:


Meyle and every other brand version:

[aluthman]

You don't have a different version. You just had the steel spacer come out of the steering spindle with your old arm. You need to get the spacer off your old arm and get it back inside the spindle and you will be able to install your new control arms. Use a bolt, nut and some washers to "press" the spacer back into place.

[drifto614]

You don't have a different version. You just had the steel spacer come out of the steering spindle with your old arm. You need to get the spacer off your old arm and get it back inside the spindle and you will be able to install your new control arms. Use a bolt, nut and some washers to "press" the spacer back into place.

Adam,
Some of the thread are damaged on the ball joint from me trying to pound the spacer off. I wiped it down really well and looked at it and it seems to be one piece. (Unless it's just cold welded together.). Do you think that this spacer is sold separately or is it only sold with the steering knuckle?

[aluthman]

Adam,
Some of the thread are damaged on the ball joint from me trying to pound the spacer off. I wiped it down really well and looked at it and it seems to be one piece. (Unless it's just cold welded together.). Do you think that this spacer is sold separately or is it only sold with the steering knuckle?

Unfortunately, I don't think they are sold separately. Use a torch to heat up the spacer. This will help break the corrosion bond between the two parts and will expand the spacer slightly.

[Spike00513]

Adam,
Some of the thread are damaged on the ball joint from me trying to pound the spacer off. I wiped it down really well and looked at it and it seems to be one piece. (Unless it's just cold welded together.). Do you think that this spacer is sold separately or is it only sold with the steering knuckle?

Why does it matter if the old now-trash CA threads are damaged? Probably "cold-welded". In my case, a torch didn't really help remove it alone, so I cut right above the spacer cylinder with a hacksaw. After cutting off the ball-joint, it allowed me to place the cylinder on top of a socket, heat it, and hammer on the threaded part until it fell out.
Then to re-fit the cylinder into the spindle, I cleaned the surfaces well, and lightly heated the spindle. Not sure if any lube or anti-sieze should be used. I didn't want to make the spindle too hot, I hear that can weaken or damage the aluminum.

[klrider44]

Had this exact thing happen to me a couple weeks ago. Had to replace the spindle since as far as I know that spacer is not sold by itself. I bought a used spindle from wolf auto for $150. Check your local junkyards and make sure that spacer is in there.

[drifto614]

So i finally got them apart! Huge relief! I rented all kinds of tools from Advance Auto and Napa, but one tool worked the best. It was called a "ball joint seperator". The first one i had to take the control arm off and put in a vice to separate them. The other arm was still on the car and i was able to insert the fork in between the bottom of the knuckle and the spindle. I pounded the end of the fork and it separated the ball joint leaving the spacer in the knuckle. This is what the part looked like that I rented in case anyone else needs help in the future. Thank you everyone for your input! This is a free rental if you need them to do the job fyi.

[Charles.waite]

So i finally got them apart! Huge relief! I rented all kinds of tools from Advance Auto and Napa, but one tool worked the best. It was called a "ball joint seperator". The first one i had to take the control arm off and put in a vice to separate them. The other arm was still on the car and i was able to insert the fork in between the bottom of the knuckle and the spindle. I pounded the end of the fork and it separated the ball joint leaving the spacer in the knuckle. This is what the part looked like that I rented in case anyone else needs help in the future. Thank you everyone for your input! This is a free rental if you need them to do the job fyi.

Glad you got it sorted. Same thing happened to me when I took my lower arm off.

[aluthman]

Those are also known as pickle forks. I prefer this style tool: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...tor-99849.html

Glad you got it apart.

[FraggyA4]

Those are also known as pickle forks. I prefer this style tool: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...tor-99849.html

Glad you got it apart.

I plan to use this style. I went through the process on my jetta with the forks and they are mediocre at best.

[yeoj112689]

Same thing happened to me, I tried my pickle fork but it did not work very well. SO I took a pitman arm puller, made it as tight as possible, map torched the hell out of it, cranked a bit more and BAM it went flying across my garage but I got it.