Damn Sable!!!

[SableSal]

Ok, so Im doing some maintenance on the Sable and I'm taring into the suspension (again) and I decide to get the Tie Rod Ends (outter) replaced and the (lower) Ball Joints.

No Problem... atleast I thought.

Apperently while doing the passenger side. Come to find out, the damn things are litterally frozen to the steering knuckle! I mean, it's not like I don't know what the **** I'm doing... I've seperated them several times before... I mean, it should be a piece of cake.

But nooooo.... damn ******' things had to get frozen. So anyhow... I decided these things HAD to come out. One way or another...

I ended up having to UNDO the toe adjustment, and back out the threads of the INNER Tie Rod's end, and had to remove the entire suspension setup on the passenger side....

I'm talking Strut/Spring/Mount, Knuckle, and Lower Control Arm...

This was a ******! But I got it out.... Got everything swapped over...


.... Now to get the driver's side done....

I should have it done before 1pm if all goes well. (which I pray it does)

Anyhow, thought I would share...





Sal

 

[Porkchop]

I ran into the same issued when the ball joint decided to go in my green car. They bent a 5' long pry bar trying to get the freaking thing out. Honestly, it coule be the elemenets ro driving style, but I think its just because its lowered....

 

[Dylan]

I had to mess with the ball joints a few times. And every time I end up bending a bar or busting a puller apart. I hate the ball joints.. they've given me nothing but trouble when dealin with them. everthing else seems fine though.

 

[SableSal]

Yeah, so Yippee! I gotta deal with the driver's side now... I really think the issue might be in the wheels/tires with the lower profile and all... But eh, oh well. This is the price I pay

Now to start on the Driver's side... wish me luck!




Sal

 

[SableSal]

I'm doing the driver's side right now... SOB!!! Anyone know the best way to get the lower control arm out... it's not so much the bushing at the rear of the control arm. it's the front one that's a ***** to move out...

Anyhow, thanks in advance... I'm on a break right now...lol





Sal

 

[Porkchop]

ever try takeing a jack and a piece of wood and jacking up on the LBJ and then smacking the LCA with a hammar or prybar?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I'm doing the driver's side right now... SOB!!! Anyone know the best way to get the lower control arm out... it's not so much the bushing at the rear of the control arm. it's the front one that's a ***** to move out...

Use the right tools, makes it 10000% easier.

This, plus a forged pitman arm puller makes the job about 2 minutes per side:

 

[SHO_Driver]

My '99 Sable did the same thing. Could not get the balljoint out after repeated beatings and even some heat. Time to try that tool...

 

[SableSal]

ever try takeing a jack and a piece of wood and jacking up on the LBJ and then smacking the LCA with a hammar or prybar?

Been there done that. I got the entire assmbly torn apart... then time to use the vise to pound that ball joint and let em know who's boss

I tried using pullers of all sorts, and trust me... I gotta pound the shit out of it to get out.


Anyhow... Break is over... time to get back to working...


BTW, thanks for all the replies.




Sal

 

[godspunk32]

Sal, when we did the KYBs on my Sable (the cooler Sable... ), we needed a large pittman arm puller, and we had to drill the rivets out on the pie tins to get access to the lower control arm. It was really easy on the driver's side, but a real PITA on the passenger side. We tried the BFH method, on each side of the LCA, but we couldn't get the ball joint to pop out.

I need to put new ball joints on my Sable, but I'm waiting until I go up to Bob's place sometime this spring, prior to ROTB. I don't feel like dealing with this stuff by myself...I don't think Meg's dad wants to work on my car anymore...

Anyway, give me a call if you still can't get them out.

JR

 

[SHO Continental]

Sal.. tsk... tsk.. my rusty illinois car didn't have a problem with that..

 

[SableSal]

Sal, when we did the KYBs on my Sable (the cooler Sable... ), we needed a large pittman arm puller, and we had to drill the rivets out on the pie tins to get access to the lower control arm. It was really easy on the driver's side, but a real PITA on the passenger side. We tried the BFH method, on each side of the LCA, but we couldn't get the ball joint to pop out.

I need to put new ball joints on my Sable, but I'm waiting until I go up to Bob's place sometime this spring, prior to ROTB. I don't feel like dealing with this stuff by myself...I don't think Meg's dad wants to work on my car anymore...

Anyway, give me a call if you still can't get them out.

JR

Thanks JR. I really appreciate it... You know me, the Sable expert. I got it done about an hour ago... Damn was it a SOB to get them out. All new Ball Joints and Tie Rod ends. I think I'm good for another 50K

(If I keep her that long... don't let Kim see this! YIKES!)





Sal