HELP! Cant get lower ball joint off to replace my axle!!

x27arab27x

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So I've finally decided to change out my long overdue axles.
Got the axle nut off, the 17mm bolt and nut off but i cant get the lower ball joint to disconnect from the control arm. Any ideas or tips as i need to fix this ASAP!
 

ryan s

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go to your nearest autozone/oreillys and rent one of these...

OTC_6297.jpg


or if youre extremely careful of not tearing the boot, you can get away with one of these

06SnowSpecToolsE_img_93.jpg


and ive also done it with a fixed tooth separator

K9012.jpg
 

ib042129

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I had a few really stubborn ball joints and for those, only the fork tool worked.
But I believe the consensus is that if you use that fork tool, you throw away the ball joint.

go to your nearest autozone/oreillys and rent one of these...

OTC_6297.jpg


or if youre extremely careful of not tearing the boot, you can get away with one of these

06SnowSpecToolsE_img_93.jpg


and ive also done it with a fixed tooth separator

K9012.jpg
 

ryan s

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yeah, the poppers are definitely preferred to the fork if you want to keep the ball joint.

seeing the last pic again reminds me...make sure your ball joint nut is flush with the top of the bolt like in that picture while using option #1 or 3. if not, and the popper slips, the threads will be all mangled and the nut wont go back on.
 
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