need help with spindle removal

[crm318]

im changing out the ball joints on my truck and i have removed the rotor and caliper at this point. i also have the spring compressed. i have removed the nuts on both ball joints and i cant get the spindle loose from them. i have also tried to pry the upper control arm loose. what else can i do at this point? im also a little nervous about the dangers involved with the spring.

[bob1967]

the easiest way is go to the parts store and get a ball joint removal tool. you are also going to need a ball joint press to get the ball joint in if they are pressed in

[cdowns]

the spring myth of it decapitaing and maiming for life is a good one

do you have a pickle fork or ball joint seperation tool? with the nuts on the ball joints whackin the crap out of the pickle fork releases the balljoint from the spindle then using a jack under the lca and nut off lower balljoint lower to get spring out

[john]

Always leave the nuts on loose until the spring pressure is off. The pressure is what helps break them loose. Do as cdowns said and use a pickle fork or ball joint tool. Once broken loose put jack under arm and remove nut and lower. The only time I have ever needed a compressor is with no engine weight.

[crm318]

after i posted, i remembered that i need the ball joint tool. the spring compressor is still in so ill leave it. thanks for the info guys.

[El Jay]

I'm baaaaaaaaaaack.
As an aside, it's not a bad idea to run a chain thru the coil spring to keep it from decompressing 100% when the ball joint breaks loose.
I hate to keep harping on it, but springs worry me sometimes.
I won't say how I know this, but, back in my misspent youth, "somebody" had a spring come loose & bounce off the exterior wall of the living room.
Fortunately, nobody was in the flight path of the spring.
My bride, in our new house, was somewhat less than happy.
Wimmens!

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by crm318

im changing out the ball joints on my truck and i have removed the rotor and caliper at this point. i also have the spring compressed. i have removed the nuts on both ball joints and i cant get the spindle loose from them. i have also tried to pry the upper control arm loose. what else can i do at this point? im also a little nervous about the dangers involved with the spring.

PUT THE NUTS PARTIALLY BACK ON.
It's just a minor safety precaution to keep everything from flying apart.
Coil springs store an enormous amount of energy and are very dangerous.
This stuff can't be stressed enough.

Right, or wrong, here's how I have done it in the past.
I'm assuming you have the shock absorber disconnected, or removed.
First of all, I jack up a floor jack against the lower control arm, not enough to compress the spring, but tight enough to keep the control arm from dropping, & the spring from flying out (a very bad thing!)
If you don't have a pickle fork, smack the spindle in the area of the ball joint w/ a 4# hammer.
It's a taper fit, so sometimes it's hard to get the ball joint to separate from the control arm.
This works for both the top & the bottom

As a friend of my son once said, "I've never seen anybody use a 4# hammer like you guys."

[faribran]

EL Jay's plan works.... thatz the way i did it..