Me a retard...I'm trying to do a clutch job, but I'm stuck. I cannot separate the lower arm from the ball joint. I've tried a mallet, joint seperator, and gear puller. No luck at all. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions?? Any help at all is appreciated, thanks.

 

I read that someone just removed the LCA instead of separating the ball joint.
Not sure if that works or not, but worth a try if you're stuck.

 

Use a sledge hammer. you probably arent hitting hard enough.

 

hmm, both good ideas...thanks, I'll keep trying.

 

[Modified by flamencoR184, 4:47 AM 1/13/2002]

 

1" cold chisel or a wood splitter between the knuckle and LCA. Just stay away from the boot.

 

BIG Sledge hammer.

 

Budman separated his lca from the knuckle yesterday with a splitter tool (looks like a big-*** tuning fork), a 3.3lb sledge hammer, a good helping of advice from sgT...thanks!), and alot of whack!

 

the proper and easiest way is with a pitman arm puller, you can get them at any autoparts store for like $8-$12, besst money Ive ever spent, takes less than a minute to sseperate ANY ball joint. As always, leave the casstle nut on the last couple threads so they don't strip out. Also,, if the pitman arm puller you get has a pointed bolt on it, grind that bolt down, otherwise you'll cave in the hole for the cotter pin and that damages the thread alignment around the hole.
Robwster