so i busted my passenger side axle, and when i went to go change it i cant get the ball joint to come loose to pull the axle out. ive tried just about everything. It seems like its seized or something anybody got any ideas on how to get it apart? i need to get the car back on the road but its the only thing stopping me from doing so

 

what tool do you use to get the lower ball joint out?

 

Ball joint puller, about $14 at autozone. It'll come of with ease when you get it. DON"T bang on it with a hammer or you'll end up replacing the balljoint

 

You can use a pickle fork also but please grease it up so it doesnt tear the boot of the ball joint.

 

Hit the side of the lower control arm a bit with a hammer to try and sorta break loose the knuckle and the lower control arm. Then get a ball joint splitter or crow bar and try and pry the two apart. I forgot how i took my friend knuckle assem. off, I think it had to do with me standing on the LCA and prying up with a crow bar...a real pain the ***. Get a ball joint splitter and it should be ALOT easier. But yeah, DO NOT HIT THE BOLT WITH A HAMMER where the cotter pin is. Those are very soft and will mushroom. Not fun to deal with... Good luck!

 

what if you tear the boot of the ball joint, what could happen

 

thanks for the quick replys, but i tried everything you guys said, i have a ball joint seperator but it isnt helping much, i just about pounded the side of the lower control arm but that doesent do anything either

and yea i already kno not to hit the bolt that holds the cotter pin in

 

I have the same problem on both side of the suspension. I try a least 3 different kind of seperators, and no luck. I end up using the fork and hammer the **** out of it. I end up have to change the lower ball joints for both side. Changing the ball joints are very easy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nY's FiNeSt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what if you tear the boot of the ball joint, what could happen</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

The last thing you want to worry is the boots. Changing the boot is very very easy. The boot is about $3 a piece from dealer.

 

i'm just wondering what problems you could bump into if the boot rips

 

at this point i dont even mind changing the lower ball joint, but the thing is that i still need to get it off the lower control arm, i cant even change my axle because of it and ive been pounding away for 2 days now

 

Did you use fork kind and a heavy hammer to pound it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nY's FiNeSt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'm just wondering what problems you could bump into if the boot rips</TD></TR></TABLE>
Nothing will happen. You can still drive your car but change it asap. Just change it or the dirt and water will ruin the joints.

 

yeah i tried the fork type and a hammer to pound it but it still wont budge..whats the going price for a shop to fix this? i really want to do it myself and save money but a job that should take about an hour is turning into days

 

put at least two lug nuts back on the rotor and snug,then using a jack raise the suspension by the rotor be careful and don't damage the backing plate raise it enough to put pressure on the strut and hit the side of your LCA you can leave castle nut on the ball joint but make sure it's loose or take it off its up to you but I just took it off,after a couple of good blows from a hammer it should break loose,you can also use another hammer on the opposite side you are hitting to make it more effective!

 

haha i also tried this...it seems like the bolt rusted or is siezed in there..

 

You might want to try the bearing seperator from here. I think you might have to remove the rotors. The bearing seperator will try to squeeze in between them that might help you. Type "bearing seperator" in the search.
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