HOW do you remove spindles and control arms

[71tahoe]

Originally Posted by patthethird

I have a 3/4 ton 67 I'm trying to get the ball joints off of. I had a hydrolic jack in between the a arms and was beating a pickle fork to death with a 5# hammer. I swear I'm not getting anywhere. I dont know what i expect y'all to say, I am just frustrated.

I just did my half ton and all it needed was the spring pressure. Tried smacking the ball joint with the nut backed off with no luck. Then tried air hammer with a pickle fork with no luck. Got the BFH on the pickle fork and bingo. The only problem was getting the mangled nut off the ball joint. Grinder with a cutoff wheel made short work of that.

Try alternating hitting the pickle fork and the ball joint stud/nut.

Also make sure your assembly can't just fly apart. Keeping the nut on the ball joint should prevent it but it's a good idea to chain the spring to part of the chassis too.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by 71tahoe

The only problem was getting the mangled nut off the ball joint. Try alternating hitting the pickle fork and the ball joint stud/nut. Also make sure your assembly can't just fly apart. Keeping the nut on the ball joint should prevent it

You shouldn't be mangling the nut.....You don't hit the nut/stud. You hit the spindle on the side, right where the tapered part of the shaft goes through. The "shock" of the hit makes it "jump" apart.

This is not the correct spindle, but the arrow shows where to hit.

[71tahoe]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

...You don't hit the nut/stud. You hit the spindle on the side, right where the tapered part of the shaft goes through. The "shock" of the hit makes it "jump" apart.

Much better advice. Less aggravation = happier camper and you can reuse the ball joints. Mine were shot so no loss but I really need to remember this for next time. Thanks LONGHAIR.

[stealthy '69]

I must be a puss or some thing. I've been whacking them all week while I was on vacation. And it has not worked out so well. I spayed WD-40 on them, used a pickle fork, and a BFH. But no luck. I guess I need a BIGGER FH. I'll put on my man pants and try it again.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by stealthy '69

I must be a puss or some thing. I've been whacking them all week while I was on vacation. And it has not worked out so well. I spayed WD-40 on them, used a pickle fork, and a BFH. But no luck. I guess I need a BIGGER FH. I'll put on my man pants and try it again.

Matt,...
make sure you have the upper and lower balljoint nuts backed off about 3 turns. (enough to stay on, and still create a gap)
Then make sure to have a floor jack under the lower a-arm,... but not touching it. (about 1" away from touching)

Then the force of the coil spring will help you "un-seat" the taper of the ball joints when you hit them with a big hammer.
(a sledge hammer works great,... the bigger, the better)

Do the upper first, then the lower.
Also alternate hitting the front side of the ball joint area of the spindle,... then hit the back side.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by stealthy '69

I must be a puss or some thing. I've been whacking them all week while I was on vacation. And it has not worked out so well. I spayed WD-40 on them, used a pickle fork, and a BFH. But no luck. I guess I need a BIGGER FH. I'll put on my man pants and try it again.

It's not so much about the "size of the hammer" as it is "how you swing it".....no, really. It's as much about "bat speed" as anything. A huge hammer doesn't swing well in this confined space anyway.

Man pants is totally up to you.....safety glasses are a good idea though.