Citroen XM Forum

The joint is a taper joint. Put a jack under the wishbone to make it grip again while you undo the nut.

I tried your idea Will, but I'm afraid no joy. The thread just spins with the bolt or visa versa. I have a feeling that possibly the bolt might have crossed threaded at some point, maybe when it was last replaced. Or it's torn inside the ball joint. Very annoying. The plan might be to cut the nut off, remove the entire hub and replace it with a spare one. A drastic idea.
I'm not struggling with a stuck lower ball joint! I've read Shane's experience and write up of it on Aussie frogs.

The other nut however on the drivers side popped off with no trouble. Typical.

Nut has been removed. Progress continues.

What did you do, use a nut splitter or saw it with a hacksaw...or did it just start to undo?

Hacksaw I'm afraid. Not a choice I liked doing, but I had no choice. Nothing would shift it. So yes, it means a new lower ball joint. Or I swap the hub for my spare, if the lower ball joint on that is okay. Otherwise hub off, and drop it to a mechanic with a new ball joint and they can do it!

Can't see the point in swapping the hub for the sake of a new ball joint.

The lower ball joint Neil, is a tricky one to remove. You need special sockets for it and a great deal of leverage and brute force. Infact from what I have read, Citroens own preferred method is to take the hub off, and bung it in a very strong vice to get it off.

Hub is off, lower mount out. To say it fought to the death, was an understatement.
Any special procedures when fitting a new one? thread lock a good idea?

Drive shafts are out now, so it's all green lights to remove the beast. Might not actually happen till the weekend. As really a full day incase anything should occur might be wise.

Good luck with the next key stage of the work Russ and I am following with interest! Best regards, Matthew T.

Today finally saw the engine removed. Little hiccup with the gear selector cable still attached via the small bracket. Whoops, forgot that. Had disconnected it from the gearbox, just forgot the two little bolts holding it to the engine.
But otherwise it was extracted without too much fuss.
Now the cleaning up and rust beating can resume... Not that there is loads. Subframe has been nicely pickled in oil and dirt. So is actually looking very good. Wondering if I should leave it alone!
I can also now get brilliant access to the spilt steering rack gaiter on the drivers side...which actually has split on the very outside closest to the wheel arch.
I need to order a new hydraulic engine mount. That's had it's days and is leaking a little. Otherwise, it's looking okay.
Not looking forward to putting the other engine back in.... But hopefully it will go smoothly.