Anyone have pics of removing the front spindles

[gottwake]

I need to take the spindles off and powercoat the crossmember but Ive never taken these things apart. Anyone have pics to share, maybe step by step process or an article of some sort? This is my first real ground up including mechanical, Im more of a paint & body guy.
Thanks

[gottwake]

Also, how do I get the stock upper and lower ball joints out of the A arms?

[Riveted1]

I'm assuming this is on the Blazer in your signature? If you don't have one yet, one of those Chilton or Hayes manuals have most of the info you'll need (with pics!)

It's pretty straight forward, just start taking stuff off! To knock the spindle loose from the ball joints, take a BFH to a flat edge of the spindle where the ball joint enters and give it a few good whacks. Some come off very easily this way, and others don't. If not, a pickle fork can be used to pry em out. You can rent or buy pickle forks from most auto parts stores.

As far as the ball joints, if they've never been removed, the upper ball joint will have rivets that will need to be drilled/ground out. The lowers will need to be pushed out. You can buy a kit at Harbor Freight to push em out or take it to a machine shop. I took mine to a machine shop and they charged me $15 per side to push out the old ball joint and put in a new one. Money well spent if u ask me

[scotts62]

Yep couldnt have said better

[LONGHAIR]

Be aware that if you "pickle fork" your ball joints apart....you are going to destroy the rubber boots, there is no way around it. Pickle forks are only a viable option if you are replacing the joint, if you are just taking it apart to replace springs or something, the "hammer to the side" method is the way to go.

[see ten]

[TimE]

Everyone needs a BFH in their toolbox!!

Good job see ten!!

[63sbssbbw]

Don't forget about the spring tension
I've wrapped a chain around it and something solid (framerail) with enough slack where it will be loose enough to remove afterward,but tight enough where it won't kill your fender or you
T

[panhandler62]

There isn't much spring compression if the suspension is hanging unloaded, but I won't argue with a safety rec out of policy.

If you are removing ball joints that have been in there for 37 years you may find that extream measures, such as chisels and grinders, are needed.

[gottwake]

Got it, Thanks.

[tdave00]

I just took mine apart with the original drum spindles on it and a BFH did the trick.

[gottwake]

Yea, I too used a very BFH. I was able to remove the arms and spindles but now I need to get the disk off of the spindle. I'm kinda learning as I go here.

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by gottwake

Yea, I too used a very BFH. I was able to remove the arms and spindles but now I need to get the disk off of the spindle. I'm kinda learning as I go here.

Good work. The learning is the best part. There's always a few tricks that you pick up along the way, but its a fun. Just dig in and it'll all work out along the way.

[Riveted1]

Originally Posted by gottwake

I'm kinda learning as I go here.

Don't worry! You're in good company here. I'm still learning as I go too. But I got the info I posted above from this site and my Haynes manual, then got to work! Everything was just like a big puzzle...

[72BlckButy]

Nice work SeeTen!

[gottwake]

LOL, its all done but it's funny how once it is all taken apart, you see where you could have taken short cuts or done things differently.