'98 Jimmy 4WD.HELP PLEASE.Stuck Ball joint

[swusa]

I am trying to remove my lower driver's side ball joint. My '98 Jimmy service manual makes it sound so simple...I must be missing something.

The manual says remove ball joint stud cotter pin and nut. (easy)

then it says: Using a pry bar, placed on top of the lower control arm and on the bottom of the frame, pry downward. (huh?) I can't understand why i should be pushing the lower arm down, compressing the space where the ball joint is. It seems to me that I need to open the space wider to get the joint out.

My ball joint was not riveted, it was bolted to the bottom of the lower control arm and the stud goes through the cast iron steering knuckle.

Presently the old ball joint is very loose, I can push the stud up with my finger. But, there is not enough room to push the stud all the way up and out of the cast iron.

The manual does not say that anything else has to be removed, but I'm not so sure.... So what am I doing wrong? Please HELP! My wife needs her Jimmy back.

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. Check this link. http://autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/090...rInfoPages.htm

[swusa]

Thanks Maxwedge....
The autozone site looks really helpful, but maybe not in my case. Figure 12 under 4WD balljoint removal looks more like a tie-rod joint than what I am dealing with.

I am still hoping that someone has some "hands-on" experience with my model.

The ball joint is loose on top and bottom and can be moved around by hand. I just can't get enough space between the control arm and the steering knuckle to remove it.

Thanks again.

[goser]

I had the same problem, I was replacing both and discovered after installing the top one first the bottom one wouldn't fit. As far as I can tell the only option is to undo the top one without damaging the grease boot and do the bottom first. There's a great write up here: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=545573

Good luck.

[swusa]

Thanks Goser! Great Link, the photos look excactly like mine.

I too, have spent a day and half trying to remove lower ball joint on '98 Jimmy 4WD the way the service manual says.....

I finally did manage to get it out, but only because it was broken and I could remove the rubber and some metal from it for extra clearance.

But now there is NO WAY to get a new one in there, Or to mount the top of it first to the control arm and then install the cast steering knuckle over the ball joints stud.. Its just impossible going by the service manual instructions.

Tomorrow I will remove everything as in link you supplied....sometimes the long way is the shortest. Thanks again.