Getting Spindle and Lower Control Arm Apart..OFF the truck

[ctandc]

Not the typical “How do I get this apart?” post.

I bought the later model suspension stuff already unbolted from the donor. Steering linkage was still connected and everything, it was just unbolted from the crossmember.

I can’t get the spindle / control arm to come off the balljoint. I’m not a newbie at this, well I’ve never done it with it OFF the truck before…but I digress.

Tried a Ball Joint tool…………beat it to death. No budge.

Can’t get my 4WD ball joint tool on it to press it out either.

I’m about ready to call a shop and see what they’d charge if I dropped it off. May get them to press the new control arm bushings out / in as well.

Any ideas?

[lolife99]

I always use the coil spring "pressure" to help put tension on the ball joint.
I've used the normal Pickle Fork, and a pneumatic version, for an air chisel,... but normally I just use a BIG hammer.
16 lb. sledge with the handle cut down to about 18".
Back the ball joint nut off about 2 turns (don't remove it) and whack the side of the spindle.
Alternate between the front side of the spindle and the rear side.
I always break the upper ball joint loose first.

[ctandc]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I always use the coil spring "pressure" to help put tension on the ball joint.
I've used the normal Pickle Fork, and a pneumatic version, for an air chisel,... but normally I just use a BIG hammer.
16 lb. sledge with the handle cut down to about 18".
Back the ball joint nut off about 2 turns (don't remove it) and whack the side of the spindle.
Alternate between the front side of the spindle and the rear side.
I always break the upper ball joint loose first.

There is no coil spring pressure, it's just the control arm and spindle still joined by the ball joint.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by ctandc

There is no coil spring pressure, it's just the control arm and spindle still joined by the ball joint.

Then your going to have to use a pickle fork.

[SBTork]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Then your going to have to use a pickle fork.

^^this, or an air hammer

[ctandc]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Then your going to have to use a pickle fork.

Tried it.

Originally Posted by SBTork

^^this, or an air hammer

Haven’t broke out that yet. I had the big boy pickle fork from the O’Reilly’s up the street (loaner tool) I know the guy, so he just handed it to me and I walked to the parking lot to try it (the parts were in the back of my Dakota). Fully expecting it to work, as I’ve never had one NOT work when hit hard enough…

I was frustrated to get a big ‘no go’. I almost flattened the end of the brand new pickle fork (new store recently opened). They said they could hear the hammer hit and they could see my entire truck moving.

I may wuss out and see if the local shop that does my inspections will do it. I need them to get the old control arm bushings out anyway.

[L&L70]

I wonder if wedging the pickle fork in there will be enough pressure to the whack the hell out of the spindle to pop it out. One good whack with the coil still in always does the trick.

[SBTork]

Originally Posted by ctandc

I may wuss out and see if the local shop that does my inspections will do it. I need them to get the old control arm bushings out anyway.

No shame in that, any decent machine shop should be able to handle the whole process quickly. I had a machine shop take care of my control arm bushings/shafts. Much easier for me.

[Axle]

I was frustrated to get a big ‘no go’. I almost flattened the end of the brand new pickle fork (new store recently opened). They said they could hear the hammer hit and they could see my entire truck moving.

Not to be an donkeys relative, but you got to back that spindle up with something solid if you have no spring pressure to help. You truck bouncing is absorbing a lot of the shock impact. But still, some impressive hitting if you could mangle the end of the pickle fork that quick.

Alex.

[ctandc]

Originally Posted by Axle

Not to be an donkeys relative, but you got to back that spindle up with something solid if you have no spring pressure to help. You truck bouncing is absorbing a lot of the shock impact. But still, some impressive hitting if you could mangle the end of the pickle fork that quick.

Alex.

That's pretty much what the old guy said who pulled up while this was going on. His wife was with him:

Her: Honey what on earth is he doing?

Him: He's trying to talk real sweet to something so it will do what he wants.

I almost fell off the tailgate laughing.

[rex01atv]

I have done this several times using a big sledge hammer being careful of course. Usually a few blows and it comes apart. I start by removing the lower first then the upper using gravity and the hammer. Hope this helps.

[ctandc]

Originally Posted by rex01atv

I have done this several times using a big sledge hammer being careful of course. Usually a few blows and it comes apart. I start by removing the lower first then the upper using gravity and the hammer. Hope this helps.

Upper is apart. Lower is comfortable. I just dropped it off at a local shop that does my inspections. He tried to the hammer trick too. He was a little to confident it would work quickly. It didn't.

Old guy said "Leave 'em by the press I'll get 'em out."

So we left 'em.

[Chad215]

I know it's been a few weeks now-
So I guess the shop got em out?
I'm having the same exact problem. pickle fork went all the way in, banged on the spindle..still nothing. Upper is loose. Pretty frustrating..feel like it's laughing at me.