Balljoint Trouble !Update!

[Wakeboy1337]

93 4x4 w/4WABS

I got the five nuts off that hold it on. (two are still threaded on a few turns to prevent it from flying off) and I have the wheel speed sensor screw out and the small 6mm 12 point screw out for the sensor shield is out as well.


I've tried the mallet method around the edge of it for about an hour and a half now and I've tried a slide hammer on it. It has not budged. Not. One. Bit.:thumbdwn:

What should I try now?

See Post 10 for update

 

[Maniak]

I used a stiff putty knife and a sledge (I don't own a rubber mallet).. I went around the seam of the spindle and the knuckle and once I got it to break free it wasn't so bad. Now that its been off once its real easy to take that one off.

Also, Once I got the spindle to move ever so slightly (I started from the top) I sprayed in pbblaster into the seam to try to have it get rid of any corrosion.

That was after I tried hitting the spindle using my sledge and a block of wood. It didn't move.

~Mark

 

[Happy Jack]

Check the auto parts stores and rental places in your area and see if they rent a slide hammer and the screw on spindle adapter. Best and easiest way to remove by far. Three smacks or less and it is off and pulled straight off. No damage. They also sell the screw on adapter at Sears I think. I'll look for a part number.

 

[Happy Jack]

Found it. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00996398000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[Maniak]

Found it. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00996398000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Thats cheating.. the correct tool for the job makes things too easy..

~Mark

 

[IZwack]

That tool is ingenious.

 

[Happy Jack]

Yup. Fer year un year I used the putty knife, small screw driver, bigger screw driver method beatin up the spindle an my tools sayin thar has ta be a better way. Found thet tool bout 5 year ago ur so an never looked back. Folks call us when they need it. Matter o fact we ur goin up saturday mornin ta do a 94 with it. Some o the 4wd shops sell um for twice the Sears price. Some parts stores will rent tools and just about rent um free if ya buy parts there. They just rent ya the slide hammer and then refund ya most or all the rental when ya return it. So even if they don't have the socket adapter ya can go to Sears and add it to ur tool box. And some large rental places rent tools and have them. But they seem ta disapeer so it's good ta have it in your tool box. We went ahead and bought a slide hammer. Thats the expensive part.

 

[Wakeboy1337]

Got it off. I hit it one more time and it broke free just the slightest bit. I guess it didn't like being soaked in crc-656 all day.

 

[IZwack]

Yup. Fer year un year I used the putty knife, small screw driver, bigger screw driver method beatin up the spindle an my tools sayin thar has ta be a better way. Found thet tool bout 5 year ago ur so an never looked back. Folks call us when they need it. Matter o fact we ur goin up saturday mornin ta do a 94 with it. Some o the 4wd shops sell um for twice the Sears price. Some parts stores will rent tools and just about rent um free if ya buy parts there. They just rent ya the slide hammer and then refund ya most or all the rental when ya return it. So even if they don't have the socket adapter ya can go to Sears and add it to ur tool box. And some large rental places rent tools and have them. But they seem ta disapeer so it's good ta have it in your tool box. We went ahead and bought a slide hammer. Thats the expensive part.

As an alternative or in dire situation, you can probably make one out of an old spindle nut, a short section of tube, and a welder.

 

[Wakeboy1337]

I now have the shaft out and the upper joint is loose from the suspension but the lower balljoint it still stuck. Both are in the knucle still and I have been following TedJ's guide on how to do this but I cannot get that lower joint to break free no matter how hard or where I decide to beat on it.

 

[94EddieBauerRock]

Try heat and more beating. The lower ball join on my buddies Crown Vic was stuck pretty bad. We took turns beating the hell out of for about 2 hours straight. It finally popped after we heat it up a couple times.

 

[Maniak]

I know freezing ball joints make it much easier to put them in. I don't know if you can get "cold spray" onto the ball joint enough to make it easier to pull without cooling off the knuckle too.

~Mark

 

[Wakeboy1337]

Good suggestions gentlemen. I will try tomorrow.

 

[Wakeboy1337]

Didnt work. Had it head up to 500 degrees while beating on it. Then tried (while still hot) pressing the balljoint out of the knuckle while it was still attached to the truck and still have not made any progress. Only thing that I can think of is to cut the balljoint off and drill it out. Any other ideas? Or opinions on this idea? Thanks gentlemen.

 

[IZwack]

Might help (if you find the right size):

 

[Wakeboy1337]

Might help (if you find the right size):

Had dad get the picklefork when he went to town. 10 hits with the hammer and it was out