HELP lower control arm & ball joint

[CruiseLanderAZ]

@Somebodyelse5 any tips? I only remember the painful bushing removal part.

 

[ga12r1]

I’m about to lose my mind over this thing!!

Trying to get LCAs off so I can take them to get new lower ball joints pressed in. I cannot get the joint loose from the knuckle and chipped the knuckle in the process. Watched videos, read every thread I could find here, wailed on it with a hammer, jacked up under it with and without hammer, PB Blasted a few times a day since Sunday. Nada.

Pictured is all the tools I bought for this. The separator on the right’s opening is too small to fit over the boot. The biggest puller was causing some movement until it slipped off dramatically and caused the chip. Kinda hesitant to try that again but I’m wide open to advice!!

(nut is not flush like it looks in the picture)

Is that a deadblow hammer in the picture? If that’s what you’ve been using you need to change over to a nice sized ball peen to strike the knuckle with. That should do it. You really need to hit it hard and solid to “shock” it enough to break the taper.

 

[westwardCruiser]

I had the exact same frustration, here was what finally worked for me
LOwer ball joint wont pop!
I think you could do the same with your separator (black one)

 

[Greenbean]

Is that a deadblow hammer in the picture? If that’s what you’ve been using you need to change over to a nice sized ball peen to strike the knuckle with. That should do it. You really need to hit it hard and solid to “shock” it enough to break the taper.

That hammer is useless if it’s a dead blow.

A mechanics best friend is the 3lb sledge.

I need to get me a good ball peen hammer too.

 

[re_guderian]

Pickle fork and sledge, and even then it'll take some time.

 

[Phat1842Many]

I just finished doing a CV reboot w/o taking the lower off because it wouldn't budge. I'll be prepared with the correct pitman next time.