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**1971Stepside** · 02-14-2003, 04:28 PM

I accomplished this by grinding off the rivets and then punching them out with a punch. I would recommend getting them off the spindle first though if you are going to reuse the spindle. I used a pickle fork and a BFH for that.

The lower ones I had a problem with because the nut would spin the entire ball joint and would not loosen. I finally got a big pair of vise grips to hold the stud and got the nut to come loose. I then used the pickle fork and BFH again. Then I laid the lower control arm out in my yard and beat the ball joint out of it. I also removed the upper arm to beat on the rivets.

Good luck, it sucks but with persistance you get there.

02-14-2003, 04:28 PM	#5
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	I accomplished this by grinding off the rivets and then punching them out with a punch. I would recommend getting them off the spindle first though if you are going to reuse the spindle. I used a pickle fork and a BFH for that. The lower ones I had a problem with because the nut would spin the entire ball joint and would not loosen. I finally got a big pair of vise grips to hold the stud and got the nut to come loose. I then used the pickle fork and BFH again. Then I laid the lower control arm out in my yard and beat the ball joint out of it. I also removed the upper arm to beat on the rivets. Good luck, it sucks but with persistance you get there. __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."