Ball Joint Stuck!

[tnbandit]

I was cutting a half coil off my front springs this weekend. Driver side, no problem. Passenger side, NO GOOD. I broke a ball joint pickle fork trying to get that thing apart last night. I hammered and hammered(5 lb. brass hammer) on the bolt and control arm. Soaked it in PB Blaster, let it set all night. Still no good. Tried a small propane torch for heat, not happening. The thing won't budge! What can I do? Anybody want to come break this loose? lol

[MrQuick]

hitting the threaded stud does very little.

Try hitting the spindle side with a medium iron hammer. Works for me all the time. Also lower the car and try to place a 2x4 between the upper arm and the frame. Then raise the car. This will lessen the angle on the studs. Disconnect the tie rod so you can get a good swing on it. Crank the spindle to one side. You want to get a good hit on the beefy section where the BJ stud goes through.

I like to leave the nut on at least 2 turns or place a jack under but not supporting the control arm. You want to let the control arm free to drop a bit.
Vince

[tnbandit]

Ok, I'll give that a try in the morning. Thanks

[novaderrik]

when you were hammering on it, did you have a jack under the ball joint?
if so, take the jack out and let the spring pressure do the work for you. a few good wacks and even the most stubborn of balljoints pop out if the spring is pushing on it.

[tnbandit]

No jack was out. but i did leave the nut on a few threads as Mr quick suggested. so if it did pop loose it wouldnt fall completely out.

[ZZ430]

Use the right tool, either buy one or rent one.

[tnbandit]

right tool as in pickle fork?.....i already stated i had one and it broke. got another one and still no luck!

[novaderrik]

i think it was David Pozzi that invented a balljoint separator tool that fits in between the upper and lower balljoints and pushes them apart.

[John Wright]

Have you tried one of these on a air chisel?

http://www.tooltopia.com/k-tool-inte...aign=nextag_r1

[wmhjr]

i think it was David Pozzi that invented a balljoint separator tool that fits in between the upper and lower balljoints and pushes them apart.

Marcus sells these. I bought one. SO much better than smacking the friggin ball joints around!

[bochnak]

Marcus sells these. I bought one. SO much better than smacking the friggin ball joints around!

I made 1 for a few bucks. Go to the hardware store and buy 2 bolts and a coupler. I like to use bolts/coupler which have the same hex/wrench size as the BJ's.

[wmhjr]

I made 1 for a few bucks. Go to the hardware store and buy 2 bolts and a coupler. I like to use bolts/coupler which have the same hex/wrench size as the BJ's.

The one advantage to the ones that Marcus has is that they have larger pivot ends, so you're not twisting on the studs when you expand and they take care of odd angles - plus they're beefier. To be honest, they aren't very expensive. You have a great idea for a home made tool if you don't plan to use it much, but now that I have mine, I've used it a bunch of times already. Way more than I expected. The one from Marcus was a whopping $19.90!

[JRouche]

Ive separated a few ball joints over the years. Always used a pickle fork. Never broke one though. And they do have an up and down side just for some that forgot, I did once

I am against hammering on the spindle, just not kosher for me.

For a really stuck joint I made a sleeve for my dewalt jack hammer.



Yes, it was a major task. Had to stand up on the work bench above the vice holding this big hammer on the pickle fork. Just hammering away. This was after using a two pound sledge on the pickle fork and wearing me out. The joint finally popped loose. Not fun. Pickle fork never broke.

A spreader (press) type ball joint separator would be the hot ticket I think. I need to add one to my tool box. Hammering and forcing just doesnt sound right, kinda primitive. Forcing a wedge in between to parts doesnt sound as productive as pressing the pin out directly. But usually the pickle fork works with just a couple whacks.

I wont be standing on the bench anymore for a ball joint. Before that happens Ill take the advise from you guys. JR

[tnbandit]

Ok so I'm still not making progress. Tried the block of wood between the upper control arm and frame as suggested by Mr. Quick. Then I thought if I took the upper ball joint loose, I could just slide the whole spindle off the lower ball joint. But even the upper BJ is stuck! What the hell do I need to do to get these things loose?!?

[ZZ430]

right tool as in pickle fork?.....i already stated i had one and it broke. got another one and still no luck!

No, check a Snap-on or Matco catalog.

[John Wright]

Ok...worst case senerio...you could take the lower control arms loose at the frame.....lower it down with the floor jack(be sure to have the car already up high enough to let the control arm swing down far enough to get the spring out).

Not the preffered way, but it can be done with caution.

Then you could get at that buggar and give it a real kick in the butt with the hammer to get it loose.....if that still doesn't work, take the upper control arm loose and take the arms and spindle somewhere that has the tools to get it apart for you....this shouldn't be that difficult, I'm wondering what is up.

[wmhjr]

Ok so I'm still not making progress. Tried the block of wood between the upper control arm and frame as suggested by Mr. Quick. Then I thought if I took the upper ball joint loose, I could just slide the whole spindle off the lower ball joint. But even the upper BJ is stuck! What the hell do I need to do to get these things loose?!?

I think you had a couple answers. You need to either make the tool yourself or buy the tool from Marcus. That'll get the spindles off and you can do what you want.

ESPECIALLY if you have tall ball joints (don't know if you do) the pickle fork is a real problem.

[BonzoHansen]

The local advance auto 'loans' tools and they have the tool you need.

[bochnak]

Buy the tool here:

http://scandc.com/tools.htm




Or use your imagination and make one. This tool/method works really well w/o tearing boots.

[tnbandit]

Buy the tool here:

http://scandc.com/tools.htm




Or use your imagination and make one. This tool/method works really well w/o tearing boots.

Ok now i'm seeing how this would be a better tool for the job. i wasn't understanding the whole coupler idea.