Ball Joint Removal - Arkansas Style

June 7, 2008

All this talk about the hammer is so timely as I am fighting with the ever-popular "ball joint replacement". This is made slightly more difficult as my subframe assembly is currently sitting on a pallet and the transmission is removed.

More or less went like this so far:
Removed upper bolt from new sway bar connector.
Swung strut away from working area.
Removed brake caliper mounting bracket.
Removed rotor.
Removed bolt from ball joint.
Beat a pickle for to pieces without any movement from ball joint.
Removed pickle fork and searched for another tool.
Did not find a suitable alternate tool or bigger hammer.
Replaced pickle fork and beat the tool until it separated the welded shaft from the fork.
Beat on just the fork.
Discovered this was just as effective since it still did not give.
Drank another beer
Beat on it some more.
Sprayed a generous amount of "Nut Buster" on offending connection.
Beat on it until the fork flew out of the area narrowly missing a stray cat that wandered over to investigate the foul language.
Looked for a clip holding the ball joint in the knuckle above where the boot was, didn't find clip though there is still a groove.
Tried to loosen axle nut. Discovered the largest socket in my tool collection is a 28mm and a 1-1/8"
Drank another beer
Found clip in mud next to pallet
Fried using a combination of 2 jaw gear puller and C-clamp to force threaded portion of ball joint from lower control arm.
Broke 2 jaw puller.
Drank another beer
Went to parts store (son drove as I had already drank a few beers) but freaked out on the cost of one 30mm deep socket, Decided to go to Harbor Freight for a full set at same cost.
Harbor Freight closed
Went home, put tools away and contemplated taking off lower control arm to have ball joint replaced at shop.

Went inside

Carter Fuji
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Kids, don't try this at home! I'm guessing not enough beer? Just saying

Larry Eck
97TR
Mods
Cam Failure #425
96MG
Almost Bone
Webmaster www.v8sho.com
LMIR

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June 9, 2008

Cute!

Next time, use a pitman arm puller.

Paul L Fisher
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Yes, Mr. Fisher would be correct as I did eventually did get it the ball joint from the spindle by getting a pitman arm puller. The first one I came back with would not fit in the area on the control arm. The second one did work though I did freak out for a moment when it came loose making a sickening snapping noise. I was sure I had broken the tool, lower control arm or spindle.

Carter Fuji
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I actually snapped the 1st one I tried from Autozone’s loan-a-tool program. Took it back and they gave me another one. Since then, I’ve bought my own and have stripped the threads once or twice. Just hand it to the Cornwell tool guy and he gives me a new one for free.
Paul L Fisher

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