well my ball joints are screaming to be replaced. and since my uncle is down and he is more experenced then me at working on cars we are gonna do it this weekend. we rented a ball joint seperator and a press from auto zone, but he thinks that the ball joings might be in there so tight that the seperator might not be able to get it out. my question is what problems might we run into, and what are the solutions to these? for example, if they are stuck in there good, is there any tips to getting them out? etc etc.


thanks in advance

 

heat can cure just about any metal seizure problem.

If'n it don't, it weren't meant to be.

or other wise run the a-arms down to a shop, and let them pop them out

 

should i buy a butane torch? or do i run the risk of more damage from heat in wrong places?

 

I've never used a seperator to remove ball joints. I just support the body and let the lower control arm hang. then loosen the ball joint nut leaving several threads still engaged. I usually put my floor jack under the control arm a couple of inches to catch it in case the nut doesn't hold when the joint breaks loose. To break it loose, I use two large hammers. One hammer, usually the larger, is held up against one side of the spindle, right where the ball joint goes thru. It usually only takes a few good whacks with the other hammer on the opposite side of the spindle till the joint pops loose (it will really pop). This method is not only easier, it leaves the rubber in tact, in case the joint is not being replaced.

 

I few hard whacks with a decent sledge hammer on the spindle right next to the where the ball joint mounts will pop it loose every time. It's quicker and easier (IMO) than using a ball joint separator. Back when I was doing 1 or 2 sets of ball-joints a day, this is how I did almost all of them. If you get it set up right, the ball-joint press should have no problem removing them from the control arms.

 

HOW long will it take, my uncles saying it might take a few hours.