plaiskool

I got everything off alright...however....i can't seem to seperate the ball joint in order to get the axles out...i tried hitting it w/a hammer but still wont work? am i doing it wrong?

BauleyCivic

get a big *** breaker bar and put it between the lower control arm and hub and pry them apart...make sure you dont touch the boot

SFC

acetyline torch. That's the only way mine would come off. Heat the **** out of the LCA and hit it with a hammer again, it'll drop right off.

photec2

get a ball joint seperater (SP?) and give it a goood wack $20 at autozone

aw1234dude

Thats what I usually use. Just make sure if you do use it put the nut on losely so you dont squase the balljoint bolt.

92b16vx

To avoid crushing the bolt joint bolt, thread the nut back on till it is flush. I just whack the LCA right at the joint once or twice, a nice sharp hit should seperate it.

civicgsr93

The best if you ask me, unless you want to ruine others things also.

Jonathan

EE_Chris

I just used a 10lb min-sledge - whack the LCA near the ball joint and it should just seperate.

You can also use a pickle fork - just make to sure to grease the fork part as you don't want to tear the ball joint boot.

The ball joint seperator (pictured above) is also another alternative - but as mentioned, make sure to get the nut flush with the end of the ball joint stud. The stud has 2 holes drilled all the way through which makes the stud weak. If you had used this seperator without the nut sitting flush, you could easily mushroom the stud and then its time for a new ball joint - which also means pulling the knuckle out because you have to press the ball joint in/out.

cccya

used a jack under the ball joint, and a big hammer on the LCA. "POP" out it went.

vtec94civic

if the ball joint just won't come like it happened to me. i used a ball joint seperator, pickle fork, torch hammer,etc... just drop the lca from the the other side. there are like 3 or 4 17mm bolts, a 17mm nut and a 12mm nut for the sway bar and it should drop and give you enough clearance to pull the axle out.

ApexIS300

turn the wheel to the opposite direction that your working on lift up on the hub then hit the flat edge of the controll arm with a hammer... should pop right off (ghetto way)

justinh595

hmmm, lots of ghetto ways.lol. My ghetto ways are to take off the nut and leave the other suspension bolts still in loosely and lower the car slowly with the wheels on till you here the pop. if you do it right it should pop and nothing will get messed up. The weight of the car will pop it off. Be careful though if you don't go slow enough you could easily trash your fender. If you don't like that way take a craftsman 1/2 inch breaker bar and shove it in there to pry. It fits quite snugly, after its in you can either: 1= beat it in further to pop it 2= kick it downward to pop it or 3= throw a pipe on the breaker bar for more leverage, should come right off. I suggest you try the second way first, the first way is sorta my last resort. I've tried a lot of different methods before and have come to the conclusion that these are the most effective. I hate forks because they always rip the boots and those little puller dudads can mess up the stud.

jeffk182

DONT use a hammer..we messed up threading on my friends car. What you need is called a pickle fork. Its used to seperate ball joints.

nsxmatt

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EE_Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just used a 10lb min-sledge - whack the LCA near the ball joint and it should just seperate.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is the correct way and it works most of the time. If it doesn't pop out use a breaker between the LCA and put some pressure while you hit the LCA. Just don't hit the lower ball joint as the threads will mushroom at the end and your out of luck then Pickle fork will also get the job done but will most of the time tear the boot, no biggie though.

monicle

a pickel fork will do the trick. put some grease on the fork first though to help avoid ripping the boot on the ball joint.

ApexIS300

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by monicle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a pickel fork will do the trick. put some grease on the fork first though to help avoid ripping the boot on the ball joint.</TD></TR></TABLE> pickle forks always mess up that ball joint..... if u dont have the right tool.... then use my hammer trick it works.....

pb16b

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jeffk182 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DONT use a hammer..we messed up threading on my friends car. What you need is called a pickle fork. Its used to seperate ball joints. </TD></TR></TABLE>

and it's alot easier with (thor) big heavy hammer.

that's because stupid used the hammer on the threads. you're not suppossed to hit the threaded shank. hit the lca.

if you're only doing this to get your axles out, try the two 17mm nuts on the shock tower. undo those 2 nuts, drop the upper control arm, and the whole suspension assembly swings out and you can pull your axles out that way... most people tell me they don't do it that way because their ball joints come apart easily. but i like doing it this way because i never have to worry about ball joints and cotter pins. hope this helps.

2manycars2choose

AHH!!! Why does everyone **** with the ball joint. Just take out the 2 nuts either side of the shock tower in the engine bay and let the assembly drop and then pull out the axle!!! Why do so many people mess with that ball joint ??????

pdiggitydogg

I always raise the suspension (compress the spring) and then beat on the arm. That way there is extra tension pressing on it. If that doesnt work I try the puller/pusher tool (I bought one)

Built B16A

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2manycars2choose &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">AHH!!! Why does everyone **** with the ball joint. Just take out the 2 nuts either side of the shock tower in the engine bay and let the assembly drop and then pull out the axle!!! Why do so many people mess with that ball joint ?????? </TD></TR></TABLE>



the 2 nuts on either side of the shock tower are the upper controll arms, however they have a bar in between each bolt behind the strut (strut travels inbetween upper control arm) so how would you go about this one?

HATCHingMN

when I swap my b16 I have the same problem...just go to autozone and rent the ball joint seperator, it free and it solved all my problem.

menkio

right tool for the job. get in the zone... autooo zone!

pdiggitydogg

thats about the only thing they have/do that works...a damn ball joint tool

ch4nq

take out the outter joints first then the ones on the tranny, its much easier cause the tranny will hold the other side for you =D

Tad

what i do is stick my crowbar embetween the lca and shockfork, then.. well.. pry it,

sometimes u just gota wedge it then hit the bar with a hammer..