Spindle from upper ball joint.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: SNELLVILLE, GA
Spindle from upper ball joint.
I'm trying to remove the spindle from the upper ball joint. I've tried everything there is known on this retarded thing, hammered on it for and hour on each side, sledge hammer and 2x4, blow torch, blow torch and cold water, pickle hammer, air pickle hammer, wedge, compressing and quickly decompressing the lower a-arm, talking nice to it, talking bad to it.... Nothing will ever work until I get some controlled explosive devices. Is there any one thing I'm missing? I've spent close to 6 hours on nothing right now. SO, whats everyone's advice on the car? 1975 Corvette.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Propane torch on the spindle, heat it up pretty good, then pickle fork it but good with a 3 lbs hand sledge, leave the nut on the bottom of the BJ stem so to let the spring help.....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: SNELLVILLE, GA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I have found the below two tools work real well for removing ball joints from spindles. One is a Tie rod tool, the other a pitman arm tool.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=9186818
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=9186808
The ones I have can be threaded in by a socket or you can attach a 3/8" rachet directly to the threaded screw. I normally end up using the pitman arm tool for ball joints since it has a larger opening.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=9186818
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uestid=9186808
The ones I have can be threaded in by a socket or you can attach a 3/8" rachet directly to the threaded screw. I normally end up using the pitman arm tool for ball joints since it has a larger opening.
Last edited by Sigforty; Aug 21, 2014 at 02:37 PM.
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
SInce we are not there and cant see what your doing.
Jack up front of car and make sure front suspension is unloaded.Remove the front shock. Pull the cotter pin and loosen the upper ball joint nut about 5 turns. Make sure you can see a gap between the ball joint nut and the spindle. Warm the spindle up with a torch of some type, I use a MAP gas torch as Oxy Acetylene can really ruin parts.
Now with 2 heavy hammers. Place one hammer on forward side of spindle at the Balljoint hole. st rike the spindle with the other hammer opposite the first. The force of the springs and the percussion of the hammer should cause spindle to pop downward.
If you have tried everything and it still wont budge get out the blue flame wrench and cut the stud of the balljoint above the spindle.
Be prepared to purchase another spindle
Jack up front of car and make sure front suspension is unloaded.Remove the front shock. Pull the cotter pin and loosen the upper ball joint nut about 5 turns. Make sure you can see a gap between the ball joint nut and the spindle. Warm the spindle up with a torch of some type, I use a MAP gas torch as Oxy Acetylene can really ruin parts.
Now with 2 heavy hammers. Place one hammer on forward side of spindle at the Balljoint hole. st rike the spindle with the other hammer opposite the first. The force of the springs and the percussion of the hammer should cause spindle to pop downward.
If you have tried everything and it still wont budge get out the blue flame wrench and cut the stud of the balljoint above the spindle.
Be prepared to purchase another spindle
