Ball joint removal tool
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 449
Likes: 151
Ball joint removal tool?
I have read that there is a special tool to remove the ball joints on the c7 control arms. Its pricey at $250 versus the generic ones for $50 I have seen for sale. Is this specialty version required?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 567
From: MSP
I've always used a pickle fork style without issue.
I think I have one of these sets in my garage --
Gotta be careful with them if you aren't replacing the ball joint, though. Easy to tear the boot with the pickle fork style. You can get the press style which is a bit safer, but a bit more fiddly.
Paying $250 for a ball joint tool is probably the funniest and dumbest thing I've heard in a while. Don't do that.
I think I have one of these sets in my garage --
Gotta be careful with them if you aren't replacing the ball joint, though. Easy to tear the boot with the pickle fork style. You can get the press style which is a bit safer, but a bit more fiddly.
Paying $250 for a ball joint tool is probably the funniest and dumbest thing I've heard in a while. Don't do that.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
This is what I use:
A couple of hard hits alongside the control arm section the ball joint stud passes through and the stud loosens.
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,486
Likes: 800
From: West coast CA
Beating your aluminum suspension pieces with pickle forks and sledge hammers can work, but it can break stuff, and if the taper has any galling it may not. I have encountered lower ball joints that absolutely positively would not separate without one of those presses, plus the application of heat (from a heat gun, not a torch).
Make sure you find one with long enough jaws to reach the lower ball joint. Most of the generic ones can't.
