%€£><!! Ball joint removal
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
%€£><!! Ball joint removal
I started a job I felt confident to do... I am dropping the control arms to change out the bushings. I compressed the spring and secured it with a spring compressor. I just can't get the upper or lower ball joints to budge. I tried using a pickle fork but that just lifted the grease skirt. What am I missing here is there a small press or gear puller I need
Any help would be appreciated
Any help would be appreciated
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
Use the three or five pound hammer you were using with the pickle fork to hit the spindle where the ball joint taper is. Yes you can buy other tools that will work, but most front end guys just rap it with a hammer.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Take the spring compressor out of the spring.. then loosen the nuts up on the joints.. not all the way, just make sure you have full thread in the nut. With the spring tension present, whack the joint with a hammer.... When you loosen the nut up you should see a space between the nut and the arm, after you whack it this space should be gone. If it is you are now ready to compress the spring and then removal of the joint from the knuckle should be easy.
Willcox
Willcox
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,423
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Hi Mr. Willcox, the first time someone showed me that trick I was AMAZED!
At first I couldn't imagine why one would need such a large hammer to change a ball joint!
At first I couldn't imagine why one would need such a large hammer to change a ball joint!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Spring compressors are a total waste of time and effort. The spring will help the spindle ball joints come apart.
Smarter people just leave the shock in place with the top nuts off. The shock would keep the spring in place (safety device) when hitting the spindle shaft to loosen the ball joint. I use metal round block on the spindle so I don't dent the shaft with a 3 pound sledge hammer. Leave a floor jack about a 1/4 inch below the lower a-arm to catch it when it pops apart
In my tool box I have a screw type clamping tool called a ball joint separator or something like that for steering arms and hard to get at ball joints. But a air hammer with a forked bit works much faster especially for getting the a-arm bushings out
Smarter people just leave the shock in place with the top nuts off. The shock would keep the spring in place (safety device) when hitting the spindle shaft to loosen the ball joint. I use metal round block on the spindle so I don't dent the shaft with a 3 pound sledge hammer. Leave a floor jack about a 1/4 inch below the lower a-arm to catch it when it pops apart
In my tool box I have a screw type clamping tool called a ball joint separator or something like that for steering arms and hard to get at ball joints. But a air hammer with a forked bit works much faster especially for getting the a-arm bushings out
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Those pickle forks come in varying widths! I know, we have two of them, one wide, the other narrow. We've actually seen where the narrow fork, is wide enough to 'start', but then will jam itself against the shaft, of the joint, instead of pushing the wedge all the way through!
And yes, you've really got to whack it with a small sledge, really hard, to get them to separate, unless you have the aforementioned air tool.
And yes, you've really got to whack it with a small sledge, really hard, to get them to separate, unless you have the aforementioned air tool.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Take the spring compressor out of the spring.. then loosen the nuts up on the joints.. not all the way, just make sure you have full thread in the nut. With the spring tension present, whack the joint with a hammer.... When you loosen the nut up you should see a space between the nut and the arm, after you whack it this space should be gone. If it is you are now ready to compress the spring and then removal of the joint from the knuckle should be easy.
Willcox
Willcox
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 284
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From: St Louis MO http://1972corvetterestomod.blogspot.com/
...Smarter people just leave the shock in place with the top nuts off. The shock would keep the spring in place (safety device) when hitting the spindle shaft to loosen the ball joint. I use metal round block on the spindle so I don't dent the shaft with a 3 pound sledge hammer. Leave a floor jack about a 1/4 inch below the lower a-arm to catch it when it pops apart...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 18
From: Corona Ca
Don't do the shock trick with KYB gas shocks. Over-travels the shock and ruins the seal. Lotsa noise, lotsa mess. Don't know about other gas shocks, but I'm not wealthy enough to try it out.
I have always done the loosened nut/hammer on the spindle trick. Works every time.
Whatever method you use, please be careful, wear safety glasses, chain down the spring, use a spring compressor as well. This is one of those projects where safety is important.
I have always done the loosened nut/hammer on the spindle trick. Works every time.
Whatever method you use, please be careful, wear safety glasses, chain down the spring, use a spring compressor as well. This is one of those projects where safety is important.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
Thank you all for your help. It really says somthing when a vendor has an answer at 10 pm
. I ended up going to Harbor and buying a separator tool for 13 bucks, worked like a champ. Thanx again to everyone who replied to my post. This is a great Corvette community
. I ended up going to Harbor and buying a separator tool for 13 bucks, worked like a champ. Thanx again to everyone who replied to my post. This is a great Corvette community
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Don't do the shock trick with KYB gas shocks. Over-travels the shock and ruins the seal. Lotsa noise, lotsa mess. Don't know about other gas shocks, but I'm not wealthy enough to try it out.
I have always done the loosened nut/hammer on the spindle trick. Works every time.
Whatever method you use, please be careful, wear safety glasses, chain down the spring, use a spring compressor as well. This is one of those projects where safety is important.
I have always done the loosened nut/hammer on the spindle trick. Works every time.
Whatever method you use, please be careful, wear safety glasses, chain down the spring, use a spring compressor as well. This is one of those projects where safety is important.
What a mess.. I'm glad the separator worked.. from time to time they don't. It's like the joint gets fused in the spindle.
The load of the spring seems to be the jewel for 100 percent success.. I've never had it fail.
Rocky.. Thanks for the kind words, these goofy car have been my passion for a long time.
Willcox
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Raleigh North Carolina