Suggestions on how to remove lower ball joint

98exploda · Post by **98exploda** » January 29, 2004

I got the passenger side out just by taking the bolt off and then hammering up on the lower ball joint and it came out in like 5 hits, then i took the suspension bolt out and moved everything out of the way so the axle would come out, went to do the same to the driver side, and it won't come out. I have to replace the lower ball joint on the driver side now because it won't come out and im running out of ideas. Here's what i've tried so far, hitting it up with a hammer, heating it up with a torch, spraying some penetrating oil on it, tried raising it out of the joint with a jack and still nothing. I heard something about a pickle bar or something like that but i don't know what size to get or how much they are, does any one know, or have any other ideas on how to get the driver side lower ball joint out so i can get the axle out and finally drop my blown tranny out and finish the 5 speed conversion.

Sorry that was so long

munster · Post by **munster** » January 29, 2004

The way that we got mine out was by putting a pry bar on the lower arm (Between the upper and lower arm) beside the ball joint and smacking the pry bar with a B.F.H. (BIG fucking hammer). That'll pop it out of the arm on the bottom. As for getting the balljoint out totally...I had the mechanic at work burn it out with a torch since I couldn't get it out with a press.

Get the biggest pry bar you can. We used a rock bar.

Good luck. They're a BITCH. At least you got the axle nuts off, though.

98exploda · Post by **98exploda** » January 30, 2004

lol we've tried that too. it's really a stubborn bitch. im going to buy another tool today that's supposed to seperate the ball joint and should hopefully pop out.

Post by **kotomile** » January 30, 2004

Get a pickle fork. As for hitting tie rod bolts/ball joint bolts etc. from below with a hammer, I learned my lesson on that one, DON'T DO IT!

Several hours later after some creative dremeling and a run to the parts store I was FINALLY able to re-attach my friend's tie-rod to the hub.

robry · Post by **robry** » January 30, 2004

goto autozone or advanced auto, they rent tools. You can tell them what size picklefork you need. Just get one or two and beat the fuck outta them. We had the same problem with my friends F150 ball joints. They are a bitch.

YouTube · Post by **.saint** » January 30, 2004

balljoint seperator tools are gay.. when we did munster swap. BAN was the master of getting them apart. he took a long pipe and stuck it on someparts or something and 1 swing with a sledge poped right the hell off. the fork fucked up munsters threads real bad.

munster · Post by **munster** » January 30, 2004

Yeah it did. Balljoints are helling stupid and so are the forks.

98exploda · Post by **98exploda** » February 01, 2004

well im going for round uhhh hellin i forget what round im on, but im trying again tomorrow, and im getting a pickle fork tomorrow if this shit don't work im cutting and drillin and burning till it falls the fuck out i already gotta replace the lower ball joint cuz the threads are all fuggged up from hittin the hell outta it wit the hammer.

munster · Post by **munster** » February 01, 2004

Just torch it then. That was the easiest way to get mine out.

98exploda · Post by **98exploda** » February 01, 2004

we torched it for a while too, didn't work and we had the flame on it for a good 20 minutes or so.