how can i replace the front offside lower suspension ball joint on a 2001 renault laguna II. have replacement part , but can't seem to seperate two peices to remove old ball joint.

robin stiff, January 2008

Tools
19mm Socket / Wheel Brace
Jack & Axel Stands
17mm Socket
19mm Open Spanner
Grinder
2Kg Hammer & Chisel
Ball Joint Separator (Wedge)
21mm Socket
24mm spanner
Torque Wrench.

Removal
1. Using 19mm Socket or Wheel Brace slacken wheel nuts.
2. Jack up car and secure on axel stands
3. Remove wheel
4. Using a 17mm Socket, disconnect the track rod end from the hub.
5. Optional (just to get it out of the way) - Using a 19mm spanner slacken the lock nut on the track rod end 1/2 a turn and remove the latter by simply unscrewing.
6. Remove ABS sensor cable
7. Using a 24mm spanner remove the nut at the top of the ball joint (found this quite stiff with no room to put a socket on it)
8. If the ball joint to be removed was a replacement, you're laughing - Using 17mm socket and spanner remove nuts and bolts
9. If the ball joint to be removed is original it will be riveted on. This is the fun part took me almost two hours.
10. Using a cutting disc grind off the heads of the rivets at the bottom of the ball joint.
11. Using the chisel and wedge remove the ball joint from wishbone (lots of banging required - those rivets are very, very tight - took me ages).
12. Very Important - Using your grinder again grind along the side of the rivet to make it thinner and easier to go through the wishbone so that when you hammer them through, and they tend to flatten more, they don't end up just getting even harder to remove.
13. Hammer the rivets out.

Fitting
1. Using the 3 nuts and bolts supplied, fit the new ball joint to the wishbone (I torqued these to 60Nm).
2. As someone else posted, it's easier to remove the hub carrier to fit the new ball joint. Using a 21mm Socket remove the two bolts holding the hub carrier to the strut.
3. Raise the hub carrier into place on the ball joint.
4. Refit the hub carries to the strut using original 21mm bolts and torque to 180Nm
5. Fit and tighten the 24mm nut on the ball joint. This is supposed to be torqued to 110Nm. How in god's name you're supposed to do this without having taken out the drive, I have no idea.
6. Replace ABS cable
7. Replace track rod end remembering you slackened the lock nut 1/2 a turn.
8. Attach Track Rod End to Hub using 17mm nut and torque to 37Nm
9. Refit wheel
10. Lower car
11. Torque wheel nuts to 105Nm

laguna, July 2011

many car companys rivet the ball joint have to drill it out and rivet again

darren, November 2009

the balljiont is a press fit.you will need to get heat on around the arm around the balljiont them hammer it out,clean up the inside then smear with grease then press in the new balljiont.

sam, January 2009

The original part is riveted to the wishbone with three rivets, you have to grind the old rivet heads off and knock them out, then the new replacement ball joints should have come with new bolts to use to fit them. If there are no bolts ensure you purchase appropriate ones, i.e. high tensile and shear strength, not your local DIY bolts!
IMPORTANT TIP ... be careful not to damage the ABS sensors or wires during removal and movement of the hub when the joint is out!

SteveP, January 2008