Lower Ball Joint is a PITA

[67chevemall]

Well I have tried the pickle forks and the BFH but they won't budge it.

Before I damage the thing I thought Id get the seperator.

I looked up the J 23742 tool and most places want over $100 for it.
Local rent a tool doesn't have one....

STUCK...................................


It is a 67 C10 2wd

Anybody have any ideas? Any help would be great.

[kevmic28]

You can use a tourch to heat up the A arm and a BFH, or try Harbor Freight for the correct tool.

[brothers69c-10]

Are you trying to get it out of the spindle or take the whole ball joint out of the a arm?

[jdry68step]

i just took the lower arm of and stuck it in the press

[Hottrucks]

if he's using a fork I would guess the spindle from A arm

place a jckstand under the frame lower the jack about 1/4" from the bottom of the spring cup...wac in the fork from the back then go in fromt the otherside with your BFH and wack the spindle where the ball joint goes though.....the taper makes them pop right off with the spring tension

[67chevemall]

I just want to drop the lower arm to get the spring out and drill holes for the Airbag plate.....

[Alvin]

Whacking the spindle worked on both frames I tore down. No fork at all.

[67chevemall]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Whacking the spindle worked on both frames I tore down. No fork at all.

Tryed that...not alot of room
Maybe some heat would help

Be sweet if I could just find the tool J 23742

[grs]

When you loosen the ball joint make sure the ball joint nut is not all the way off. Place the frame of the truck on jack stands.

[vasquezmrysvll]

do NOT HEAT the control arm. you should only use heat on suspension parts you don't intend to use anymore.

[67chevemall]

Anybody know a good deal on GM tool # J 23742

[Hart_Rod]

I bought one of this for about $31 shipped...

http://www.howeracing.com/p-7588-bal...ader-tool.aspx

[67chevemall]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

I bought one of this for about $31 shipped...

http://www.howeracing.com/p-7588-bal...ader-tool.aspx

Bamm you the man

[Tx Firefighter]

I used a turnbuckle from the hardware store the other day. I just cut off the eye ends and used it as a spreader. Put it between the studs of the upper and lower ball joints and tighten it with a wrench. The screw pressure from the turnbuckle will pop it loose.

[1967C20]

If all you want to do is get the spring out, just remove the top ball joint and let the lower control arm swing down. Of course use a jack under the lower control arm. In the picture, I made a ball joint buster out of a brake drum puller. I put a nut between the ball joint stud and the point of the puller (yellow arrow), then put the impact wrench to it while whacking the side of the knuckle with a BFH.

[love my 72]

1967C20,

that is some sweet ingenuity, pardon my suspension ignorance but what is a BFH?

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by love my 72

1967C20,

what is a BFH?

Big F---ing Hammer

[oldblue1968chevy]

LOL

I know on smaller stuff (ATVs) you can hold a hammer against the a arm and 180* on opposite side slam it wiht a nother bfh and it'll pop right out. heat would help also goodluck

[Sillyoldman]

I didn't even mess with my upper or lower B-joints. I just disconnected the upper A-arm from the frame and gave it a spin to get my coils out.

[Longhorn Man]

I was reading the whole thread to see if anyone said anything... SOM got it.
If the lower ball joint is being that stubborn, then just unbolt the arm from the cross member.

[cdowns]

yeah if you leave the balljoint in sooner or later it'll just fall apart on its own usually at higher speeds then all your problems are solved

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by 67chevemall

I just want to drop the lower arm to get the spring out and drill holes for the Airbag plate.....

If you have already used a "pickle fork" on this you might as well start looking for replacement boots.....'cause you killed 'em.

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

I know on smaller stuff (ATVs) you can hold a hammer against the a arm and 180* on opposite side slam it wiht a nother bfh and it'll pop right out. heat would help also goodluck

Not on the A-arm but on the spindle itself, right next to the stud.....and yes it works very well.

[67chevemall]

Tool is in the mail should be here tm. I am retired from hack jobs...wrecked too many things....lol
Even the broken cotter pin was a good battle.

[67chevemall]

Wow those suckers are in there! The tool is great with two washers.

[KEL]

Originally Posted by 67chevemall

Tool is in the mail should be here tm. I am retired from hack jobs...wrecked too many things....lol
Even the broken cotter pin was a good battle.

I agree. When I am hacking is usually when I get hurt, too. Buy
the right tool and you'll have it forever, and the work goes much
easier.