Help me in removing ball joints!

[Conrad283]

I am under the car right now, and I can't seem to get the tie rod arm separated from the spindle

I removed the nut, and I hit it with a hammer, but it doesn't budge.

Is there a special tool that I need to help me separate the two

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/ry3D480-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/ry3D480-2.jpg

Thanks for the help

[LSx_88_Ciera]

where are you hitting?
You need to hit the steering arm not the tie rod.
I have had some tough ones but they always come apart.

[Conrad283]

where are you hitting?
You need to hit the steering arm not the tie rod.
I have had some tough ones but they always come apart.

I was hitting in the red circle

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/ry3D480-3.jpg

[LSx_88_Ciera]

Hit the side of the steering arm where the arrow points, removing the tire and turning the wheel to full lock will help also.
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=37859&d=1273092357

[Conrad283]

Hit the side of the steering arm where the arrow points, removing the tire and turning the wheel to full lock will help also.
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=37859&d=1273092357

Thanks for the help.

This will sound somewhat embarrassing, but I can't get the wheel off ... I removed the nuts and whacked it with a hammer from both sides, but it's on there good ...

I'll give it a try, thanks.

[LSx_88_Ciera]

Been there have to love corrosion. Might have to soak it with penetrating oil and use some heat or you may ruin the wheel knocking it off.

[Conrad283]

Do I 100% need a pickle fork to separate the joint?

[slowcamaro]

No. You just need a bigger hammer. Hit where he illustrated, and hit it HARD.

[LSx_88_Ciera]

IMO pickle forks are pretty useless I have a set and they sit it the bottom of my box collecting dust. Just hit it harder you will not hurt anything.

[Conrad283]

Victory is mine ... I actually got the wheel off and separated the ball joint

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/ry3D480-4.jpg

Thanks everyone.

Jack stands are being used, just can't see them. In case anyone was wondering.

[LSx_88_Ciera]

Good to see.
Sorry but I am a stickler for terminology and have to say it is a tie rod not a ball joint, the ball joints are the pieces that attach the control arm to the spindle/steering knuckle.

[Conrad283]

Good to see.
Sorry but I am a stickler for terminology and have to say it is a tie rod not a ball joint, the ball joints are the pieces that attach the control arm to the spindle/steering knuckle.

You're right ... I meant to say that ... The ball joint is still attached to the tie rod:enguard:

Thanks again for the help. The other side was a lot easier :D

[MrQuick]

are you going to be removing the spindle or control arms?

vince

[Conrad283]

are you going to be removing the spindle or control arms?

vince

I'll be removing everything ... eventually.

[FatfreeGTO]

Better invest in about 3 or 4 cans of PB Blaster then. Its the best thing you could probably spend your $$ on. Just spray your parts that you want to take out a couple of times a day or two before you actually go to remove anything. It will make your life alot easier.

[shep]

Is that a ruber mallet on the floor? If that is what you were using no wonder you were having problems. Use the biggest ball peen hammer you can find or a small sledg 1.5 to 2 lbs and swing it hard. A regular claw hammer will work in a pinch if you can swing it hard enough. Air hammer with a pickel fork attachment will work too it takes me longer to get those out than to break the joints loose with a hammer.

[scott0]

+2 on the rubber mallet. if you got the tie rod off with that you deserve a gold star! :1st:

[Conrad283]

The rubber mallet was for hitting the tire/rim that was STUCK on there. I was using a regular ol' nail hammer to hit the steering arm/tie rod.

[novaderrik]

if you weren't going to reuse the tie rod, then just hitting the stud really freaking hard once or twice will pop it loose.
when it comes time to remove the spindle, you can also get it done with a hammer.
just back off the balljoint nuts until they are flush with the end of the stud and whack the spindle next to the stud as hard as you can and it should pop right off. a couple of hits on the top balljoint and a couple of hits on the lower and the spindle is ready to come off.
put the floor jack under the lower ball joint and jack it up until the car just starts to lift off the jackstand, remove the balljoint nuts, and lower the jack. the spindle will almost fall right off.
if the engine isn't in the car, then do this with a chain and a floor jack to compress the spring:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
the pic is sideways, with down being to the right. this was on a 70 Nova i replaced the tie rods and balljoints in a couple of weeks ago.

[Conrad283]

I'm going to get a whole new front end, so I'm going to remove everything all at once. I'm going to remove the c-arm bolts and take off that entire apparatus. It'll save some trouble.

But thanks for the tip

[shep]

Leave the shocks in and bolted up until you have all the bolts out of the control arms and the springs unloaded. Then remove the nut from the top of the shock. I removed the front suspension off a car with hand tools like this. I had to drive out the bolts in the lower control arms and knock the studs out of the frame on top. After that the only thing holding the assembly to the car is the shock. I used a pair of vice grips and broke the nut and top part of the shock shaft. After that I used a pry bar to pry the upper control arms over the frame.