I am trying to finish up this axle job and did the way where you take the ball joint out and the pinch bolt and now can't get it back in even with a big rubber mallet I just bought.

Is there any kind of tricks to this or tips.

edit: short of buying/renting a ball joint press unless I really really have to

 

You're trying to get the ball joint back into the hub?

 

The balljoint on the control arm I am trying to get into the socket which has the pinch bolt.

When I took it off I pryed the control arm down to get it out now I can't get it back in without thinking shop which i can't get it there or renting/buying the tool that does it which would be a pain.

The books and sites I search for just say pop it back in there real help there. I read about removing the control arm bolts to get the axle out instead of popping the ball joint but that was after I had already had my axle out and popped the ball joint out.

EDIT: I should have said popping the ball joint back into the SPINDLE. I followed the directions from
http://volvospeed.com/volvo_repairs_...placement.html

minus the whole boot replacement since I bought a new axle for the job.

 

I got a large flat head screw driver and drove it through the the top and then bottom to open the gap. It took several tries to get it but with a thick enough screw driver or cold chisel, the gap will widen. If you cannot get a good enough oomph with the control arm on, take the control arm off. It is easy enough and may allow you a better angle to widen the gap.

 

Well I broke down and took the control arm off and took 3 seconds.. argh.. live and learn next time I am not popping the joint out just taking the arm off especially when I have to do the drivers side someday soon.

Thanks for the help

 

I had the car up on jacks and used the floor jack under the arm then slowly raised it up while positioning the strut over it. Both sides slipped right in.

 

Did try that already.. just couldn't get the right angle until I took the control arm off.. o well