Cascade Crew

Alphius · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject: Ball Joint

I've been beating the sh** out of my passenger side balljoint for about half an hour trying to get it loose. It won't come free. Any suggestions? I'm about to go beat on it some more. Yes, I am using a pickle fork. No, I have not put a torch on it yet, but I think that's my next plan if I can't get it out soon.

I had it out a couple years back, who knew it would get so stuck in so little time? Razz

Alphius · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:43 pm Post subject:

Ridiculous. It is definitely beyond stuck. Evil or Very Mad

Will heat fix this or am I better off just yanking the whole control arm/spindle and taking it somewhere to have someone else take care of it it for me? By this point, I probably need a new balljoint as well.

Argh! So close. I have one side of the C5 brakes done and I'm very mad that the other side is being so difficult. Hopefully it just pops itself free overnight or something cool like that. Laughing

91RSVert · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:32 pm Post subject:

My new ones wouldnt come apart this week with a pickle fork. I ended up spinning the castle nut to the top of the threads, and beating down onto it with a bfh.

iansane · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject:

You mean it won't break away from the spindle? The suspension is loaded, right? I've never had any issue with spinning the castle nut on upside down and pounding it out. They do make a specific puller you can grab for those as well.

RSFreak · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:15 pm Post subject:

James and I had the same problem with his. We beat the hell out of it for about 15 mins with no success. Turned out that the pickle fork was too narrow. We got a slightly wider one and it came right off. Cool

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

Ball joint press from autozone. I was so impressed with it when I rented it that I went back and purchased one. In and out, easy as fishing.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:56 pm Post subject:

Alphius · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:10 pm Post subject:

Yes, it will not break away from the spindle, suspension is loaded. I have even jacked up on the spindle to load the A-arm with more spring pressure to help drive it out. Steps so far:

1. Beat the crap out of it with an appropriately sized (to my knowledge) pickle fork for a very long time. I may yet try a bigger pickle fork, as the one I used to use at dad's house was a bit bigger.

2. Put the nut on and beat the crap out of the top of the ball joint, now I think I need a new nut and ball joint... Razz

3. Put a jack as best I could between the A-arm and body and applied significant amounts of hydraulic force. I'm not sure how effective it was as the only place I could jack was pretty far away from the balljoint. I was desperate at this point. Laughing

I thought the balljoint press tool was for removing it from the A-arm, not simply seperating it from the spindle in the first place? If they do make a special tool for this however, I will be more than willing to try it out.

I'll try to get it out more sometime this week maybe, but I don't know what to do if I can't get this to work. Time for some tubular A-arms? lol. I may go buy a bigger hammer and a torch and apply some heat to the spindle while I beat on the balljoint. When I replace my balljoint after this ordeal is over I will definitely rent or buy the press tool.

chevymad · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:29 pm Post subject:

Beat on the meaty part of the spindlle right where the balljoint goes through it, sideways to the balljoint. Leave the nut on and the suspension hanging, the spring pressure will help. Use a large hammer. Should only take a few solid blows, this deforms the hole the balljoint goes through releasing the taper.

iansane · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject:

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:53 pm Post subject:

Looks like just a tie rod/pitman arm puller there, Ian.

Alphius · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:13 pm Post subject:

Definatly need a heavy hammer and a good smack. This is all I do at work to remove these.. usually 3 or 4 good hits and they come loose. If the hammers too light you just peen things.

iansane · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:29 pm Post subject:

Alphius · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:28 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:38 am Post subject:

4lb mini sledge wins every time.

blue89 · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject:

My usual method is to jack up car, take wheel off, undo the castle nut a few threads, and beat the a arm. Once its loose I jack the a arm up a little to remove the pressure from the nut, remove the nut, and lower the arm.

Alphius · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 3:11 pm Post subject:

Xophertony · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject:

2nd brandons method. a few smacks with a 4lb mini sledge ( i always had a 5lb) and they usualy pop right out.

blue89 · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:42 am Post subject:

Then I would try heating up the spindle with a propane torch or map gas. The only time I hit the ball joint I also have the nut up flush with the top and I hit it very square to avoid damaging the threads.