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- #21
Hey guys a little stuck here trying to lop either upper or lower steering knuckles, I have both the tool and tried just a hammer. Any one have any advice or tips? Hpw hard and rough can I treat these components
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If you are talking about the ball joints, you will want to back the nut off until it covers the end of the bolt. Leave it on to protect the threads. On the upper I support the lower control arm with my jack, and I use a 2lb metal hammer to hit straight up on the upper ball joint bolt.Hey guys a little stuck here trying to lop either upper or lower steering knuckles, I have both the tool and tried just a hammer. Any one have any advice or tips? Hpw hard and rough can I treat these components
LBJ would not budge tried heat, puller tool, and a brass hammer. Couple of the drive flange studs were cross threaded on the way in. I had to throw in the towel and looks like I am having a shop put it in, pretty disappointed I couldn’t get the last bit of the job done. Going to have to order some studs.Wait, so upper ball joint disconnected, LBJ still connected? At this point, it's easiest to just remove the other castle nuts and pop the ball joints loose to remove spindle. Only a bit more work. Hub/disc still attached?
That brass ring sits inside of the seal and keeps the spindle bearing in place. I think the spindle seal keeps it there. How is your spindle seal?
I tried yanking the CV off with just the UBJ, no luck. One of the castle nuts got mashed I put them in upside down the next time and it worked with popping the UBJ.Leave the castle nut on the lower ball joint bolt to cover the threads and end from getting mashed, and use an a steel BFH. You can also use an air hammer to break it loose as it's friction and corrosion that hold them in. Just get another castle nut in advance as both techniques use it sacrificially. If you have a second set of hands have them out a pry bar in. The upper should have been done last FYI as the upper control arm provides tension to help separate the lower.
It's possible to get the CV out without disconnecting the LBJ but a pain in the butt and easy to damage the dust seal, splines, etc. when reinstalling. Worth it to just disco the LBJ and take the whole spindle off to clean and service.
On the upper I support the lower control arm with my jack, and I use a 2lb metal hammer to hit straight up on the upper ball joint bolt.
I tried yanking the CV off with just the UBJ, no luck. One of the castle nuts got mashed I put them in upside down the next time and it worked with popping the UBJ.
Going to be giving it another shot at a friends shop on Tuesday. Ordered new flange studs, castle nut and a diff seal in case.
I tried jimmying the axle out of the spindle with the LBJ still attached, I could not for the life of me get the last inch or so out of the spindle. Then I figure maybe I could hit the axle with a brass hammer and a pry bar to pop it out the diff, this didn't worth either. So I have opted to take it to my friends shop use some strong power tools to pop the LBJ.I'm still a bit miffed. The axle won't remove from the spindle, or won't remove from the front diff?
I tried seperating the axle from the diff with a pry bar, couldn’t get it to come out. Might just be that I couldn’t position myself to hit it hard enough. Going to try again with the truck on a lift. Tried doing either side first like I said above in this post. Might just have been me being too cautious. Will give it another shot with the spindle hopefully off Monday/Tuesday.Did you separate the axle from the differential with a pry bar or brass punch first?
Don't hit on the ball joint bolt. Hit the flat spot on the knuckle arm.
I tried jimmying the axle out of the spindle with the LBJ still attached, I could not for the life of me get the last inch or so out of the spindle. Then I figure maybe I could hit the axle with a brass hammer and a pry bar to pop it out the diff, this didn't worth either. So I have opted to take it to my friends shop use some strong power tools to pop the LBJ.
I tried seperating the axle from the diff with a pry bar, couldn’t get it to come out. Might just be that I couldn’t position myself to hit it hard enough. Going to try again with the truck on a lift. Tried doing either side first like I said above in this post. Might just have been me being too cautious. Will give it another shot with the spindle hopefully off Monday/Tuesday.