Hot stamped will be hardened, cold stamp will be only work hardened. There are other things to consider as well:
Heating to red hot softens the steel, which can easily result in opening up the hole where the joint is pressed, usually making it slightly oval since you are heating on one side. Now the press fit isn't a press fit any more, and the joint can come loose more easily. You can also induce or expand cracks by heating only one portion of the control arm, resulting in sudden failure as the crack grows. I've been in more than one auto shop where a customer was informed that unless the part the customer heated trying to get a ball joint out was replaced with new the shop would NOT work on the car. Way too much liability. A good press tool does the job in a couple minutes, no heating, hammering, or other destructive things need be done. Just like wailing away on a tie rod end socket instead of using the two hammers trick. Pinch type ball joint tool works far better. Peter _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
