Ugh! How to get the lower ball joint out?

[SHOhhhhMan!]

Ok, so I'm doing my clutch. I've got EVERYTHING ready so I can drop the subframe; the Y-pipe is off, the motor is supported, the swaybar endlinks are disconnected, the tie-rods are out, and I'm ready to pop the CVs out. But I'm having trouble with the lower ball-joints. (That connect to the subframe.) How do I get them out? I've tried a pickle fork, but it isn't able to pry it all the way out. I read that you can use a board like a 2x4 and use the underbody for leverage, but I don't see how you can fit it through the small opening above the joint to pry it down. Any tricks you guys have used that worked better? I need to have this car up and running by Saturday because I have to go back to work.

Thanks!

 

[Ishodu]

A large bar between the strut rod and the sub frame with a downward force should get it out with no problem.

 

[sdpatt]

Once the knuckle pinch bolt has been removed, use a flathead screwdriver to pry apart the pinch halves and then use a large flathead screwdriver or small pry bar between the top of the ball joint that protrudes above the knuckle and the hub of the axle. If the large pry bar on strut rod and under the subframe can't remove it the remainder of the way, you can put a small socket in the ball joint hole in the knuckle and use the small pry bar to apply more pressure directly to the ball joint.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Buy the right tool for the right job.

http://www.shophoenixproject.com/balljoint/balljoint.htm

 

[SHOhhhhMan!]

Hey now, I don't need to stinkin' tool. My hockeystick showed that LCA what was up.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Hey now, I don't need to stinkin' tool. My hockeystick showed that LCA what was up.

LOL, I'm suprised you didn't break it. I was using a 6' 2x4 and nearly broke that, and couldn't get the thing to come out.

 

[SHOhhhhMan!]

LOL, I'm suprised you didn't break it. I was using a 6' 2x4 and nearly broke that, and couldn't get the thing to come out.

Nah, it's pretty strong. It's made out of carbon-kevlar. I pretty much lifted all of my bodyweight (about 165) off of the ground trying to get it out of there. (Granted, I'm lying underneath the car and pulling down on the stick, so probably not ALL of my weight.)

 

[Dr. Tweak]

I had all of my weight on the end of the 6' 2x4, 175 lbs. No budgie.

 

[olympic]

My dad has a nice steel prybar for this job. It's about 4' long and over 1" diameter with a flat blade at the end. I put the flat part under the subframe, the round part rests ontop the control arm and the rest protrudes a few feet out of the wheel well infront of the steering knuckle. Usually some downward force by hand is enough, but if it's stubborn it may require my entire body weight to seperate the joint. It also helps to put a jack under the rotor or hub and lift it up a couple inches before prying on the control arm.

Anything that bends(like wood) may not work.