Feedback on Meyle HD CAs and CABs wanted

Mjlavelle- thanks for the info. I didn't think to read the reviews. I'll check them out. I'm lucky enough to have a harbor freight store about 15 min away. Hope it works!

Originally Posted by 123Shift

For ball joint separation don't use the pickle fork. This is what you want, and it makes the job stress-free:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...tor-99849.html

Tech4Tech- The link to the ball joint separator says its for front wheel drive vehicles. It works on the e46 too?

Yes

Alright- I got the ball joint separator and it worked great for the outer ball joints. Don't see how it would work on the inner joints though. Luckily after I got the outers to pop, a quick couple of whacks with a hammer popped the inners and the arms dropped out. Now I have a question. Since you can't get a socket on the inner ball joints how do I torque it to spec? I got the outers and the lollipops but the inners are another story. Any help?

If you apply 1 pound of force, 1 ft. away from the nut/bolt (using a foot long wrench)...that's 1 ft-lb.

If your wrench is 6" long, that same force equals 1/2 ft-lb.

I don't know the torque setting, but if it's 50 ft-lb and your pushing on a foot long wrench, you'd make it very tight. Imagine the force of a bag of concrete.

I think of torque as tight, really tight, and crazy tight.

Make it tight...I don't think you can make it too tight...it'll be just a few degrees you'll be turning with each pass.

Know what torque means and get as close as you can. But you want it really tight. I think it's a 21mm nut...it takes a lot of force...you won't break it.

HTH (now I'm going to get yelled at. Just watch!)

Or you could get a 50' handle and just apply 1lb of force!