I'm replacing both lower ball joints and I have two problems.

1. I can't get the ball joint off. I've tried hammering away along with anti-rust spray, it wont budge. Should I heat it to loosen the part, if so with what?

2. I cant remove the passenger side axel. I removed the bolt and hammered away and it wont budge either. Should i heat the connection between the axel and the rotor to let it lose? what should i do?

 

I just recently realized that for years I've been doing it all wrong...I've been hammering the wrong thing. Right around the ball joint are two things that stick out. I always though they designed those (not to well, might I add) so that a puller has something to grab onto, but apparently you're supposed to pound the hell out of them. Make sure to use a big *** heavy hammer, like a kilo or however big they make them. If that's exactly what you've been doing...then hell, I don't know.

 

to get the ball joint out you have to hammer on the A arm , right were the ball joint sits in the Aarm there is the part that goes around the ball joint and theres a flat spot on the side hit that with a hammer hard until it pops out, it sometimes helps to pull up on the rotor to, for the axle you can tap the end of the axle with a hammer that sometimes helps.

 

ive tried banging the hell out of both and they wont budge can i heat these to loosen them???

 

y don't u just go pick up a ball joint remover , it looks like a big fork and it's very inexpensive. it goes between the ball joint and the arm , u hammer it in and the ball joint pops loose.

 

Make sure you took the clip off first!!!!! The balljoints on my GSR knuckles had C-Clips on the bottom. Once you take those off, they should just hammer right out.

 

I've read that those pickle forks can damage your ball joints (or maybe just the boots). Of course, this guy is talking about replacing them, so it might not matter to him, but otherwise I recommend a tool they sell at Autozone for about $10 which I think is normally used for separating steering joints. It has a black screw inside a silver part; the silver part hooks to the lower control arm, and the screw presses against the bottom of the ball joint stud. Be sure to put the castle nut (or any nut) on there backwards to protect the threads, otherwise they will mushroom! Tighten this, use a wrench to keep turning, and the joint will separate.

For removing the actual ball joint from the knuckle, you'll need a ball joint removal kit, available from autozone as a loaner.