Does anyone have good tips how to remove ball join without removing drive shaft? As you know there is no room on the bolt side, ball join bolt almost touches the abs ring. So can't get any tool on there. Tried pounding with a hammer a bit and even cut the ball joint casing open. I just need to get the cone to release and I'm good. Any good tips?

 

Do You mean the axle?

 

Yes he means the axle Tony

I have been there several times over the years. You always convince yourself that it seems like it's doable with the axle in place and then end up spending more time fighting ways to get it out than you would have spent just popping the axle out in the first place.

 

this ^^^^^^

it's just 10000x easier. yes breaking that axle nut is a total bear but it's just easier to pull the ball joint out with the axle out of the way.

 

Had to do brakes on my dad's Jetta as a side project, but finally got back to this ball joint thing. I got it out without removing the axle. As I said I had already cut the ball joint casing off, then I used angle grinder to make the ball resemble hex nut, hammered impact socket in to that and used impact wrench to make it loose. Now let us see if I can install the new one without removing the axle.

 

That doesn't sound easier than just popping the axle out

Yes you definitely can put the ball joint in fairly easily with the axle in place. I've done it. Just need a big enough wrench to tighten the nut down (and you have to have it in place prior to pushing the ball joint up into the knuckle). Other than that it's just a matter of fidgeting with the cotter pin in limited space

 

Good luck with that pin. It just looks so much more frustration doing the job with axle on. Simple with axle out in my opinion. Good luck tho just double check your work when you done