bpetruzzo

So me and a couple of friend began pulling out the Transmission in my 92 Honda Civic LX Sedan. We got everything detached from the tranny, got all the bolts loosened, and it came time to remove the cv axles, but we can't seem to get the lower ball joint off. We've got a ball joint seperator that can't seem to pull this jerk apart. A few people have just told me to beat the crap out of it with a 5lb hammer. I'm nervous about doing that cause I don't want to bend something.

I was hoping one of you guys knew a trick to it. Does the 1.25" bolt have to come off first?

Also if anyone in Bowie MD, or nearby areas are gonna be around after about 5 tomorrow interested in helping, It'd be cool. We can use all the help we can get.

CXHatchback

All I do is (after you remove the castle nut and cotter pin) slide a separating fork in there and whack the hell out of it with a sledge hammer, then leave the fork wedged in there and whack the LCA near the ball joint and it'll come right out. If you do this carefully you won't rip the ball joint boot.

Double121

When we were switching motors in two cars last week, a hammer and a few good swings got that thing right out. Just knock the **** out of it.

jolt-tsp

I just stuck a ball joint seperator in there and stomped it with me foot. Didn't seem to break anything.

lillex

hit the lower control arm where the ball joint goes thur.
leave the nut loose on the ball joint so you don't mess up the threads.

Double121

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jolt-tsp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just stuck a ball joint seperator in there and stomped it with me foot. Didn't seem to break anything. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Your lucky..Everytime I ever used one I jacked up the rubber boot or I couldn't get it loose. Now a 5lb hammer is my best friend.

aw1234dude

I got one of these from my local auto parts store for about 10 bucks. It has paid for itself many times over.

Smith Wise

i had the same problem. i kept hitting it with the hammer and nada.... so I just unbolted the entire LCA and swung it out of the way. balljoints suck

splitime

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aw1234dude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I got one of these from my local auto parts store for about 10 bucks. It has paid for itself many times over.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I got mine from Autozone, well worth the couple bucks. Get one , it was the small balljoint seperater.

goodbyegti

yeah they can be a right bitch to get off, the only splitter i could get hold of at the time i did mine was too large to hook under the joint so i spent a few hours welding one up to fit, once it was straight i tightened it up with a 4 foot pole on the end of a spanner and my splittler bent into a mess.... in the end i couldn't be arsed so i took it to a decent garage and they couldnt get it off either (in a reasonable time) and warned that you can end up breaking a cv joint if you apply too much pressure using certain methods to get it off so i just decided to use a split type cv boot instead of doing it the proper way.. that puller looks a lot better than the one i had, much slimmer...

Evs-One

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exhondatech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hit the lower control arm where the ball joint goes thur.
leave the nut loose on the ball joint so you don't mess up the threads.</TD></TR></TABLE>



On the side of the LCA right above the ball joint, you will see a little "tab" sort of thing on each side....this is mean to be hit. Loosen up the nut, and wack this a few good times, and pull up on the hub assembly. Takes about 5 minutes max

99blackcivicSi

There are some that are really really frozen in there like mine i tried a pickle fork, the ball joint puller (what is used above) and nothing finally i got a 3 foot long sledge out and that is what got it out took like 10 min when i really started trying.

bpetruzzo

Ok, so general consensus is, if I get one of those non-pitchfork ball joint seperators and it still doesn't come off, I'm to find the biggest hammer I can and beat the snot out of it?

743power

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bpetruzzo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, so general consensus is, if I get one of those non-pitchfork ball joint seperators and it still doesn't come off, I'm to find the biggest hammer I can and beat the snot out of it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yup. Be careful with the pickle fork, or even other kind of seperator that you dont rip the boot. They're only like $3 at the dealer, but theyre special order items around here in NJ.

Smith Wise

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bpetruzzo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, so general consensus is, if I get one of those non-pitchfork ball joint seperators and it still doesn't come off, I'm to find the biggest hammer I can and beat the snot out of it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

why not just unbolt the LCA?? bolts are a lot easier then the balljoint will ever be

Hammett

loosen the castle nut a little bit... knock the surrounding of the ball joint with a hammer a couple times... they should come loose...

if you still cant get it off buy those ball joint separator tool.. (not the fork ones though, coz they will break your ball joint)

Happyman

All you need is the fork thing. I had a hell of a time with it at first. But then I realized I was being a *****. Get yourself a sledge hammer and wack the **** out of it. Don't be afraid.

bpetruzzo

Yes, you all were right. A fork seperator and a ten pound sledge hammer. Only took to whacks and it popped right out.

Unfortunatly, It does look like I murderd the boot. I guess I'll be purchasing new ones and I'll have a new adventure this week.

mycivicstoo(s)low

So if I just unbolted part of the lca and yanked on the hub should I be okay?

DaX

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