Stopped by a shop in Austin and saw a guy using a torch to heat up a ball joint

I was at Mikes Auto in Austin last week waiting for my oil change and noticed a mechanic heating a ball joint with a torch before trying to press it out. I always thought you just pressed those out cold, but he said it helps break the rust seal. Has anyone else seen this trick work better than just using a press alone?

3 comments

3 Comments

jasonf171mo ago

Is it true that heating the ball joint can actually warp the control arm if you get it too hot? I read somewhere that some guys use a specific type of torch tip just to heat the knuckle itself, not the joint, so the metal expands around it. Sounds like a solid trick for rusty cars down here in Texas where everything is gummed up with dirt and salt. How long does he let it sit after heating it before trying to press it out, or does he go at it right away?

clairen851mo ago

Hell yeah! Did it last month on my truck. Heated the knuckle, tapped it out easy. No warping.

faith_thomas1mo ago

i mean honestly idk if it's that deep. sure if you sit there with the torch on the control arm for 10 minutes maybe but a quick heat on the knuckle is probably fine. texas rust can be brutal but i feel like some guys overthink this stuff.