All the times in the past I have never had to seperate a ball joint. I normally take off the upper bolt of the lower control arm and most of the suspension bolts, this allows the hub to swing around and let the axle in. Now with the b16 in the passenger side axle blocks that upper bolt so I have leave the lower control arm on. I need to disconnect the lower control arm at the hub side, I'm guessing you use a fork type tool, I tried to use a 2 armed puller with no luck. Any help or tips on how to use that fork tool, does it hurt that rubber boot?

 

Yes you can hurt the boot, make sure you lube the boot up well. And what I normally do with the fork is I put it in the spot I need to seperate, I hammer is alittle, either that will knock it apart or I will pry up and down alittle and that usually works.

 

You just put the fork right below the boot right? I dont understand what it is actually seperating.

 

loosen the lower ball joint bolt, but don't take it off. using a heavy hammer(5-7lbs) strike the lower control arm, above the ball joint just below the rubber boot. a few strikes with the hammer, will separate the ball joint without the risk of damaging the boot or the threads on the bolt!

 

I always use a big crow bar, and put it between the lca, and knuckle, and jerk it up. It works great. Ryan