Ball Joint separation advice.

[mindgame]

Hi gang...

I was supposed to remove the spindle hub from the lower controller arm. At first I tried banging away with 2 hammers.. However, that prove futile..

After WD40 soaking, heating the hub with a propane torch a bit without success.. I decided to just drop both the controller and hub and deal with this later...

I am thinking of just sawing the bolt to separate the 2 and purchase a new ball joint.

Has anyone replaced the lower controller ball joint? Was it difficult?

Thanks!!!

 

[panda24619]

did you use a ball joint fork? idk what the front looks like. but im assuming its easy to do with a ball joint fork. i have one. costs $10 from oreileys.

 

[99 Expy]

I changed mine last summer, but I can't remember if I used a pickle fork or not. Whatever I did, I dont remember it coming off very difficult. Maybe try tapping the side of the spindle where the ball joint goes in to vibrate it out. If you are going to get new ball joints, I would use a fork and beat it out, and replace them with MOOG parts.

Good luck with getting the new lift in!!

 

[mindgame]

Thanks guys... Yeah I used a tie rod fork, and I beat the shi* out of fork.. The rubber boot is thrashed. End of the fork, thrashed from the massive poundings..

Thus.. my inquire...

Damn... I am going to be really sore tomorrow... Been along time since I really had real work to do!!!!

 

[mindgame]

This may work... I think I'll try this...

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qu...ferralID=45d7ffd4-05ec-11e1-931b-001b2166c2c0

 

[panda24619]

you can push it out. that should work. and its a harbor freight special and you only need it once. so you should be fine.

 

[99 Expy]

That looks like it could work. If your going to replace the parts anyway, I usually just get a bigger hammer. Make sure you done hit the spindle and hit away. I've used sledgehammers on some of that stuff before. If you can make good contact with the strike, it will do a lot.

 

[Thermo]

Mindgame, first off, make sure the nut on the ball joint is removed. Next, a big pickle fork and a BAFH has always worked for me. I then find that once the spindle is removed from the ball joint, I remove the spring clip holding the ball joint to the lower A-arm, place a jack under the lower A-arm (should be there already due to the torsion bars or the coil spring) and then I use the BAFH to pound the ball joint out. Much easier than trying to use a ball joint press to get it out. Unfortunately, you have to use the ball joint press to get the ball joint back into place.

 

[masterhacker]

I pulled both of mine apart using a pickle fork (i believe that's what they are called) Anyways harbor freight warrants all of their Hand tools, I use some of their sockets, and they replace them no prob, I even bought a 3/4" ratchet set from them for working on suspension