Ball joints, stuck like none other!

[justbinfishin]

Ok, The lower ball joint is the only thing holding the knuckle onto the front swingarm. Been whaling on it for a couple hours with the BFH. Hasn't budged, top of the threaded ball joint looks like a mushroom, so when it does break loose I"ll have to file it to get it through the hole it's in. EVERYTHING has been removed as per directions in Hanes manual. Is there a trick to this or do I just keep using the hammer until it comes loose? Truck info at left.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm not too sure of how it's put together, but try hammering at a 90 degree angle to the ball joint on the knuckle itself. I've dropped numerous tie rod ends and pitman arms this way. It seems to work better than hammering on the object itself. And if you can get two hammers striking at opposite sides at the same time, even better.

Richard

 

[justbinfishin]

I actually just dropped it by doing that exact thing! Now the friggin' ball joint press won't budge them out of the knuckle, so I'm gonna go beat on it until my neighbors phone in a noise complaint.

 

[kryptonitecb]

If they are old and rusty it may take a lot of work. Sometimes soaking in penetrating oil overnight helps.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[martin]

If you use the two hammers at ninety degrees on the knuckle while you have tension on the press and alternate between hammering and tightening, they will usually come out, perhaps slowly, but they will come out.

 

[sweetsride]

Ball joints can be a pain, if you had an extra set of hands it the ball joint press with the impact while beating the knuckle with a hammer....if you by yourslef, hit it with the impact till it stops, beat on the knuckle, hit with impact, beat, ect...ect...

Good Luck!!

Kris

 

[justbinfishin]

I got them pressed out. I had to use a half inch drive ratchet, which is why it took so long. I threw it in a vice, and used my 32" craftsman ratcheting breaker bar to ever so slowly pres them out. I have conquered and learned a new thing today! Thank you guys for the tips!

 

[fixizin]

At least you know they won't dislodge from hitting a pothole, LOL!