Removing ball joint from steering arms

[mtopxsecret6]

Hey guys, i'm having difficulty in removing the lower ball joints from the steering arms. I want to take them off so i can fit up my new steering rack boots, but cannot get them off? Is there some sort of tool i need to buy or trick to it? Thanks.

[xa1973]

Go to any good Auto store ( even Super C@@p ) and buy yourself a tool that looks like an oversized fork, pack a block of soft pine or similar underneath and whack the fork with a good 4lb dead blow hammer...it will pop straight out

[mtopxsecret6]

Is this a ball joint remover your talking about? I think i saw one at the auto shop the other week and made a scoffed remark of "what fool would need to buy one of those". Looks like im the fool lol

[xa1973]

There are two types..one had a threaded nut or the cheapest and easiest is the fork jobbie

[Zeddophile]

The problem with the fork style ones is that its very easy to stuff the boot on the balljoint with one.

 

Mxtopsecret, are you aware that where the balljoint goes though the steering arm has a taper fit (assuming this is the same for Zeds as most other cars)?  One thing you can try without buying any more tools, is to screw the nut back on the top a couple of threads, hold pressure down on the tie rod (as if you are trying to pull the tie rod out) and give the steering arm a few sharp whacks with a hammer on the side.  Normally the impact is enough to break the lock of the taper, but that said taper fit parts can be an absolute bastard at times.... The cam gears on my Alfa V6 are taper fit, and despite having been off 6 months earlier, refused to let go with pullers of any kind, I ended up having to heat the centre of the gears with a oxy torch and give them a whack with a dead blow hammer.  Never had a steering/suspension balljoint give that amount of trouble though, so you should be right....

[mtopxsecret6]

Well.. i did put the steering arm on a block of wood to raise it, and with the nut back on, i was striking it downwards as in trying to knock it out of the socket so to speak. The manual says its a taper fit. So maybe i should try hitting it on the outside? What is a dead blow hammer?

[skidmark117]

I had similar issues when I worked on mine earlier in the year.  After all the frustration, I liberally soaked the joint in WD-40, then went to work to beg for a ball joint breaker (aka. pickle fork to the US).  Came home that night without anything and gave the bolt (with the nut screwed on) a couple of belts, and it just fell apart.

 

I did some levering under the ball joint with a big screw driver between the steering arm, but to be honest, I think the WD-40 did the trick.

[herrods]

I went through the exact same issue when restoring and modifying all of my suspension components.

 

 

My mechanic friend showed me a bit of a trick for any tapered fitting.  Instead of hitting it on the top, turn it on its side and give it a really good thump, (and i mean dont be a girl about it) which loosens the fitting (without injuring it)  and it should fall out in ur hand.

[zzzzed]

I went through the exact same issue when restoring and modifying all of my suspension components.

 

 

My mechanic friend showed me a bit of a trick for any tapered fitting.  Instead of hitting it on the top, turn it on its side and give it a really good thump, (and i mean dont be a girl about it) which loosens the fitting (without injuring it)  and it should fall out in ur hand.

 

this method is the best way as far as i am concerned

My lecturer showed  us to do it this way at tafe, except to use another hammer or a dolly on the opposite side of the joint to absorb the impact and shock them loose 

they usually just fall apart with a few good hits