Remove knuckle/hub to remove fr ball joint?

[ProwlerGT]

I can't believe that I have to remove that CV joint bolt to get the ball joint on the control arm off. Does anyone else know something I don't know here? Below is the pic from my car and the pic from the manual and to me it sure as hell looks from the manual that there is a lot more clearance between the ball joint boot and the cv boot. Do I really have to remove that big ass 32mm bolt releasing the knuckle to get to the ball joint ?

[Joel_CA]

Loosen the ball joint nut as far as you can until it contacts the cv axle, break the ball joint free (which will drop it down away from the CV axle), then continue backing off the nut. If the male side of the balljoint starts spinning with the nut as you continue to back it out- push down on the control arm as you back off the top nut. The socket that the ball joint sits in will hold it from spinning when you push down the control arm.


J

[ProwlerGT]

Originally Posted by Joel_CA

Loosen the ball joint nut as far as you can until it contacts the cv axle, break the ball joint free (which will drop it down away from the CV axle), then continue backing off the nut. If the male side of the balljoint starts spinning with the nut as you continue to back it out- push down on the control arm as you back off the top nut. The socket that the ball joint sits in will hold it from spinning when you push down the control arm.


J

Very smart. I should've thought of that. Ahhh, but I'm just a bit confused on how to remove the ball joint in this situation whereas I don't have one of the low clearance removal tools. I guess I just have to pry/bang it out huh?

[JeffWVR4]

You may need a "pickle-fork" tool and a large hammer to break the joint loose. You have to use a ball-joint press to get the joint out of the lower control arm. There's a circlip on there too that has to be removed first.

[ProwlerGT]

Yeah, pickle fork seems to be the best idea for this right now cause its just too jammed in there. I'll try to wedge out the clip first to make it easier, but the new ones have clips so I'm not too concerned with the condition of the old one.

If anyone is wondering this web site has great ball joint tools for our cars (separators very similar to the one in the manual) for a much lesser price than it is to rent one at Autozone... but I do realize you get that back.
http://www.kingtonytools.com/search....ll&joint&menu=
http://www.kingtonytools.com/product...sp?ItemNo=1336
http://www.kingtonytools.com/product...p?ItemNo=F0412
http://www.kingtonytools.com/product...sp?ItemNo=1914
http://www.kingtonytools.com/product...sp?ItemNo=1038

[Joel_CA]

If you have the luxury of an air compressor, an air hammer with pickle fork attatchment will make quick work breaking the ball joint free. A few well placed blows of a hammer on the base of the knuckle assembly (surrounding the male end of the ball joint) can also pop the ball joint free. I wouldn't recommend it though since you can do some major self-induced damage if you miss. Be carefull not to fuck up the ball joint boot with the pickle fork... oh wait a minute, it already is!....




J

[ProwlerGT]

I do have an air compressor and an air hammer (might be an air chisel though; gotta check), but I'm not sure what attachments I have for it. I do have a heavy gray metal mallet/hammer that I think will work. Its like a smaller sledge hammer to me.

I rented a pickle fork (bj separator) from AutZone tonight as well as a couple different pullers for the rear shocks as well.

I am confused on the CLIP for the BJ; simply does the clip act as insurance to keep the bj attached to the arm? or does the clip simply keep the dust cover on the bj? Obviously I haven't disassembled it yet.

[Joel_CA]

Originally Posted by ProwlerGT

I do have an air compressor and an air hammer (might be an air chisel though; gotta check), but I'm not sure what attachments I have for it. I do have a heavy gray metal mallet/hammer that I think will work. Its like a smaller sledge hammer to me.

I rented a pickle fork (bj separator) from AutZone tonight as well as a couple different pullers for the rear shocks as well.

I am confused on the CLIP for the BJ; simply does the clip act as insurance to keep the bj attached to the arm? or does the clip simply keep the dust cover on the bj? Obviously I haven't disassembled it yet.

I've never seperated a BJ from the control arm before. I'm sure there's a write up on it somewhere on this site. Since you're going to replace the entire BJ anyways, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out once you have the whole arm off of the vehicle. Good luck to this project.

J

[JeffWVR4]

Originally Posted by ProwlerGT

I am confused on the CLIP for the BJ; simply does the clip act as insurance to keep the bj attached to the arm? or does the clip simply keep the dust cover on the bj? Obviously I haven't disassembled it yet.

The clip acts as insurance like you said. It's a pita to remove. There's a special too made for removing clips of that type. There's a steel retainer in the boot too, but it comes off when you pry the boot off.

[ProwlerGT]

Originally Posted by JeffWVR4

The clip acts as insurance like you said. It's a pita to remove. There's a special too made for removing clips of that type. There's a steel retainer in the boot too, but it comes off when you pry the boot off.

Maybe I can jack the arm up at the ball joint base and this will relieve some pressure on it to make getting the clip off easier. I was thinking then of using a needle nose pliers and putting the tips at the open ends of the ball joint clip ends and then pushing directly backwards from there. Think that will work? I have a "snap ring" tool, but its for the clips with the little holes in them to grip to. I just don't want to get yet another damn tool. lol - I guess I could always look at it a different way too huh... that in another 100k or so I'll have the tools to do this again? lol - OH greaaaaaaat.

EDIT: caps#:41317 Mitsu#: MB663346 rear ball joint cover - OBSELETE - Just found out from dealer today. Does anyone know if the front bj covers work for the rear bj's as well?