help - rivets on ball joints

**mikinoz** · 30-10-2008, 10:42 AM

mechanic called me to advise that he is having trouble drilling the rivets in the ball joints?

Are there any tips?

**gtimk5** · 30-10-2008, 11:07 AM

They are the easiest thing to drill out mate.
I really cant understand how he could be having problems.
Sharp drill bits??
Andrew

**brad** · 30-10-2008, 11:25 AM

centre punch the dome. File or grind a flat on it if you are a real klutz.

use a sharp, good quality High Speed Steel drill (or better like Cobalt. High Carbon bits are only for wood) at the correct speed. The angle at the end should be about 118 degrees. Start with a 3mm bit & use cutting fluid.

Generally, the workshop will use an air drill & it's too fast, blunt & some cheap wood drilling bit they got from Bunnings.

The other way of doing it is to use an air chisel & lop the tops of the rivets off.

**mikinoz** · 30-10-2008, 11:54 AM

I have a feeling that I am getting what I have paid for - a cheap fix!

I just want my bloody blue slip now...

**Peter Jones** · 30-10-2008, 12:20 PM

They're pretty easy to drill out. I did mine with a drill press and HSS bits.

I don't recall them being especially difficult.

Pete

**mollins** · 30-10-2008, 01:28 PM

ive done it with a bodgy drill and cheap bits. its really not very hard. Ive even just done it with an angle grinder before!

**mikinoz** · 30-10-2008, 02:45 PM

I hope that they are not going to charge me a ridiculous amount of money - because this should be a maximum of 1 hours work...

**gldgti** · 30-10-2008, 03:28 PM

angle grinder works well... and then a big hammer and a 8mm drift to punch out the old pins.

on a mk1, unless you have a true old school mechanic who knows his stuff, this is what i'd call a DIY money saver job...