Upper Ball Joint circlip Fun

[lesgarten]

I got the upper and lower ball joints out and in no problem.

The circlips are kinda a PITA to get out and the Upper circlips I don't want to mess up trying to get them back in. Anybody have and tips or tricks to getting the uppers in? These are the 555 ball joints. The circlip has no eyes to hook into and is almost a complete circle. I'm afraid if I just try to come in from the side it will get "sprung" and be no good. From the top, it will get hung up and drop into the groove for the boot. Also I have a ton of snap ring tools but none that work with these kinds of circlips.

Any input will be appreciated!

 

[Usterzai]

I used the pliers int he bottom link and they worked great especially for the uppers.

Amazon product ASIN B0009OR974

 

[lesgarten]

I used the pliers int he bottom link and they worked great especially for the uppers.

Amazon product ASIN B0009OR974

If these are the ones, they ain't helpin' me for some reason! Those were the ones I was using.

Pliers

 

[Usterzai]

If these are the ones, they ain't helpin' me for some reason! Those were the ones I was using.

Pliers

They worked for me but it was no easy task. Took me a while to grab the clips. Are you able to spread them out with the tool?

 

[lesgarten]

They worked for me but it was no easy task. Took me a while to grab the clips. Are you able to spread them out with the tool?

It doesn't seem to go wide enough, as well as won't hold onto the clip. I'll try it again tomorrow maybe. I didn't try to push it because it wasn't stable. I didn't want the circlip to snap into the boot groove. But that may not be that bad. I could work it from there i guess. Maybe that's what you did?

 

[Usterzai]

It doesn't seem to go wide enough, as well as won't hold onto the clip. I'll try it again tomorrow maybe. I didn't try to push it because it wasn't stable. I didn't want the circlip to snap into the boot groove. But that may not be that bad. I could work it from there i guess. Maybe that's what you did?

I was not gentle with it, kinda held the clip with my other hand. I was a little scared because the clip was unstable and there was a chance of the clip flying and hitting me in the face. I always wear my eye ware but still I was not intrested in checking the claim dewault makes for their eye ware . I think it barely had it spread enough that I could slide it in.

 

[lesgarten]

I was not gentle with it, kinda held the clip with my other hand. I was a little scared because the clip was unstable and there was a chance of the clip flying and hitting me in the face. I always wear my eye ware but still I was not intrested in checking the claim dewault makes for their eye ware . I think it barely had it spread enough that I could slide it in.

How far do yours open up? Mine only go about 1". So they barely open the clip. I may have a smaller set than you do. I couldn't find a number on mine.

 

[Usterzai]

How far do yours open up? Mine only go about 1". So they barely open the clip. I may have a smaller set than you do. I couldn't find a number on mine.

I can check tomorrow to see how far it opens or it it has a number on it.

 

[lesgarten]

I can check tomorrow to see how far it opens or it it has a number on it.

Thanx!

 

[Usterzai]

Thanx!

Sorry, could not locate mine, I am not sure where it is. Will update once I find it.

 

[FxFormat]

Pic someone linked didn't show up, but he probably meant this tool

Mine was a Lisle brand and it opened plenty wide to wedge a flathead under the clip and pry it out, wear eye protection and look away when you pry it. That clip goes flyinnnnnng

 

[lesgarten]

Pic someone linked didn't show up, but he probably meant this tool

Mine was a Lisle brand and it opened plenty wide to wedge a flathead under the clip and pry it out, wear eye protection and look away when you pry it. That clip goes flyinnnnnng

Mine are similar to that, but they don't open wide enough and won't hold the circlip. I just ordered another one that the specs say opens quite a bit more.

 

[2001LC]

Edited: This works for lower 555 BJ, but upper snap ring expanding tool is needed.

I don't recall anything special or different pounding on upper BJ snap ring. Seem I did just like lower pictures here. I pound on with hammer, finish up with flat chisel the last ~1".

 

[jammingator]

I have several types of pliers and tried them to avail - wound up getting the upper clips on fairly easily with flathead screwdriver(s)!

 

[lesgarten]

I don't recall anything special or different pounding on upper BJ snap ring. Seem I did just like lower pictures here. I pound on with hammer, finish up with flat chisel the last ~1".
View attachment 2301692
View attachment 2301693

Bottom one is not a problem. The top one though, there are two issues that make it harder.

1) I don't feel comfortable pushing it in like you did here to the lower. The "C" on the clip is not like here. It is much more closed. So IMO if you push from the side like the lower you're showing, it is gonna really try to fly, you'll have to do a huge spread on it, because it is so closed, and may be sprung by the time it spreads enough to go on.

2) So that means you have to come from above and abound the spindle, get spread and slide on, spreading with a tool as you go. But the groove for the boot will be encountered first. It's gonna land in there. Then you'll have to spread it and try to walk it out of the groove, over the next hunt and into the next groove. The issue is my pliers don't open enough. I think there are two sizes of the pliers, or more, and mine were problematic getting the clamp off because they didn't spread enough. The pair I just ordered spread almost twice as far.

 

[MJK]

Wilde G409NP are excellent USA made locking ring pliers for this sort of thing.

Snap on SRP2B, Proto J250G, Knipex 4510170, sk 7636 are similar alternatives.

 

[Eyedaho]

I used these snap ring pliers, and they worked great for me. It's hard to see in the picture, but they have a little divot in the face that the pointy end of the snap ring fits into. They're 9 inches long, which I think is ~3 inches longer than the ones you've got, at least based on the one of the Amazon comments on yours. I've been very happy with them.
Amazon product ASIN B00209ETSS

 

[lesgarten]

I used these snap ring pliers, and they worked great for me. It's hard to see in the picture, but they have a little divot in the face that the pointy end of the snap ring fits into. They're 9 inches long, which I think is ~3 inches longer than the ones you've got, at least based on the one of the Amazon comments on yours. I've been very happy with them.
Amazon product ASIN B00209ETSS

I used these snap ring pliers, and they worked great for me. It's hard to see in the picture, but they have a little divot in the face that the pointy end of the snap ring fits into. They're 9 inches long, which I think is ~3 inches longer than the ones you've got, at least based on the one of the Amazon comments on yours. I've been very happy with them.
Amazon product ASIN B00209ETSS

Those are the ones I ordered.

 

[flintknapper]

Proto J250G

Good to go.

 

[2001LC]

Bottom one is not a problem. The top one though, there are two issues that make it harder.

1) I don't feel comfortable pushing it in like you did here to the lower. The "C" on the clip is not like here. It is much more closed. So IMO if you push from the side like the lower you're showing, it is gonna really try to fly, you'll have to do a huge spread on it, because it is so closed, and may be sprung by the time it spreads enough to go on.

2) So that means you have to come from above and abound the spindle, get spread and slide on, spreading with a tool as you go. But the groove for the boot will be encountered first. It's gonna land in there. Then you'll have to spread it and try to walk it out of the groove, over the next hunt and into the next groove. The issue is my pliers don't open enough. I think there are two sizes of the pliers, or more, and mine were problematic getting the clamp off because they didn't spread enough. The pair I just ordered spread almost twice as far.

I went out to shop and pulled a upper 555 out of the box. You're correct, it not like the lower snap ring. I now recall I used a snap ring tool from NAPA. I simply expanded snap ring and guide up over ball joint.