Robert_K

I finally replaced my upper balljoints and got to doing the lowers when I realized I was stuck. I got the cotter pin and the nut off but cannot get the ball joint off the steering knuckle. I have tried prying at it with a pickle fork and a breaker bar with no success! What has anyone else done to get them separated? Keeping in mind that my car is 11 years old with OE and 133k on it. Would you suggest hammering the sh*t outta it or it there a tool for to separate these. I got a tool from suto zone but it is for separating the ball joint from the control arm, not the steering knuckle. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I need my car to get to work and back.

1racerdude

Get a tuning fork is what I call it ,and drive between the spindel and A frame.A zone should have one--easy,very easy.

Robert_K

I rented one from sutozone, shoved it under there and tried to pry it off with no success. Kep slipping and getting no lift.

1racerdude

If it is the right tool,you DRIVE it between them with a 4#hammer untill it comes loose.It is tapered on the fork end to wedge it loose.Watch your grease rubber boot,sometimes you can't save them.Beat hell out of it with a BIG hammer--4#==4 licks.

Good luck.

Robert_K

Do you stick it directly between them facing the car (perpendicual to the ball joint) or do you come in from the side. I have noticed when I wedge it between the ball joint and steering knuckle it touches the control arm with the tip, should I just keep hammering against this or reposition?

1racerdude

Put it in-in such a way as to not hit anything to interfere with the hammer blow or it will stop it' wedge effect and won't come off.

Any luck.

Robert_K

Its 3:26 AM here and my neighbors are getting pissed and confused seeing me hammer the sh*t outta my car then type on the computer every so often. I'm afraid they will call the law. I'll start again early, and I mean EARLY, this morning. My neighbors mow there yards, pressure wash things and trim hedges early in the morning when I try to sleep! So Payback is always sweet

1racerdude

Gottcha--They think because they are up everybody should be up.
Let me know how you come out.

EddieP

You aren't hitting it hard enough, plain and simple. 9 times out of 10, prying won't do you one bit of good... You've got to whack the ball joint sperator fork HARD! It will likely take 5+ good strikes before the spindle/ball joint come apart.

Mindgame

When in doubt, get a bigger hammer.

Just one of those things I don't care much for because it requires a lot of brute force. I'm always afraid I'm going to break something in these situations.

Good luck.

-Mindgame

revtime

Mindgame is correct, you need a bigger hammer.
I was replacing all the front suspension anyway so I just got my BFH out and and acted like I was driving a railroad spike and hit the top of the ball joint right where the nut goes on, don,t do this if you want to reuse the ball joint though.

Geoff Chadwick

I had the same problem. I got a bigger hammer. You dont realize how after so many miles how much force it'll need to break it loose. That ball joint takes a lot of abuse!

Robert_K

Will do! I just need some time off ( work 10-12 hours at Discount Tire Co. during the day and 5-6 housrs during the night at Outback steakhouse), at least the $$$ are rolling in! I am also planning on doing my opti, Everytime I push the gas pas 2500rpm it backfires really loud then dies ( I have to put it in neutral and start it back up while i'm still rolling)