I'm trying to break loose a ball joint to replace an axle. So far I've broke one pulling tool and bent another. I tried a pickle fork and a large hammer. I swear I heard the ball joint laughing at me. Any suggestions?

 

leave the ball joints alone and drop one of your a-arms

Just a thought

 

Do you need to re-align the front end after dropping a-arm?

 

ewwww!!!

Took us a total of about 5 hours to get one off one time..... Good luck with that

 

Grab the biggest Effin hammer you can find...
loosen the castle nut... but leave it on the protect the threads...
locate the ridges on the control arm on the front and back where the ball joint goes through... now give the ridge a BIG Whack...
HIT IT HARD...
go to the front... give it a huge WHACK.... don't be a wimp.... hit it! (it's easier if you turn the wheel to move the brake caliper don't hit the shield It will bend easily)

pry the control arm and spindle... it should be loose now..
repeat if necessary..

this will work..
you have to WHACK IT HARD though with a BIG A$$ hammer


[Modified by Crazydave, 8:28 PM 2/28/2002]

 

Might try heating it up with the torch a couple of times as well. This is what we did. That and the hammer method. lol

 

you shouldnt have to realign the car if you drop the a-arms since there is no adjustment there anyway. The only thing to look out for is making sure you have the bushings loaded equally.

When I changed to CTR front suspension on my EK hatch, I jacked up the arms almost to my ride height before I tightened the a-arm bolts/bushings down. This will ensure that my bushings dont have any preload on them and wont wear out faster because my car is lowered.

But taking the arms out wont affect your alignment..