AC lift install question

What size pickle fork do you need to remove the upper A-arm ball joint? Any other odd tools/methods I should know about for installing AC lift?

I don't have the ac lift but I still had to remove that ball joint on mine. The one thing I believe many underestimate is how hard you really have to hit the pickle. I couldnt get it to budge until I really laid into it. I had my brother hold the fork and then I grabbed the hammer with both hands and really put my back into it. A couple of super hard wacks and it popped off. On the other side I didn't even waste my time withe the lighter hits. I went full bore right away and it popped off in 4 hits.

What about the blowtorch method? Heat the sucker up a bit first, loosen the joint (from the expanding metal).

Well with the abs line the cv joint boot and other plastic pieces in the area I would hesitate to use a torch near there.

Well, the torch could be aimed precisely enough to only heat what was needed, but I don't have a torch yet. Does anyone know what size pickle fork for the upper A-arm joint? I don't want to buy a few and only use one, as I'd probably never use the others.

Originally posted by VaderX
I had my brother hold the fork and then I grabbed the hammer with both hands and really put my back into it.

Your brother is very brave...

The best technique is to rap both sides of the spindle at the same time with 2 hammers. This will cause harmonics to loosen the press fit. It should pop right out after that.

Stormy bought a smaller picklefork than the one supplied with the AC lift. After an hour or so of trying to get it off with the AC pickle, it took one good blow with the CORRECT pickle.

Maybe I can get him to shed some light on the subject.

Matt

I'd have to agree with that. After beating the shit out of a "generic" sized pickle fork (none included), I went up to Sears Hardware and got a "pickle fork kit" that included several sizes. Grabbed the smallest one, and it took about three whacks and the ball joint popped right off. Anyone having camber problems with their AC A-arms (as in you can't get the top in far enough)?

When I installed my AC lift I was refering to Mosi's instructions. Everyone who had the lift at the time was saying that it was very difficult to get the balljoints off. .This is not true. If it is hard to seperate the balljoints, you're using the wrong sized picklefork! After about 1/2 hr of beating the crap out of the drivers side and getting nowhere, I borrowed the one size smaller picklefork (I don't remember the exact size) from pepboys. One swing on the drivers side and 2 on the passengers side

As for the camber issue... Yes, I was having slight camber problems. It was a combo of equal tension on the t-bars and leaving enough space between the bumpstop and pad.

Originally posted by superjens
What about the blowtorch method? Heat the sucker up a bit first, loosen the joint (from the expanding metal).

you guys shouldn't ever heat up ANY steering or suspension part. it will ruin the temper of the part and maybe become brittle. steering parts are made of a higher grade steel. don't do it. unless of course you are going to toss the old parts or don't heat it cherry red. that is a no-no to front end mechanics. be careful... :p

Here is a pic of the two different pickle forks that Chris and I used. The one on the left we purchased first from AutoZone. As you can see in the picture, it ended up bending out. The one on the right was bought at Sears Hardware, a little more expensive, but worth it. We used the smallest fork in the set and it only took a couple good whacks.

http://photos.hxoc.net/albums/Elroy/aam.sized.jpg

That kit from Sears is excellent, it even includes an attachment for use with an air hammer. Elroy how did you make out after speaking with Nissan Mike?

Not very well. Everything seemed worse off after I started to try the things he suggested. So I just took it to an alignment specialist and he cleared most of it up. The guy at the shop mentioned that the passenger side A-Arm seems to be about .5 too long. So my camber is just a tiny bit off on that side, but nothing as noticable as before.

Originally posted by Elroy
The guy at the shop mentioned that the passenger side A-Arm seems to be about .5 too long. So my camber is just a tiny bit off on that side, but nothing as noticable as before.

My a-arm is the same. One is a little off. I'll post a picture tonight when I get home.

I glad I'm not the only one with this problem. :)

I jacked up the front a little so the a-arm and the bumpstop would be closer. I don't think I need to explain the differences...:rolleyes: